Early cultivated Kheera (cucumber) has brought smiles on the faces of hundreds of peasants of Joypurhat district as it is being sold at a lucrative price in the market this season.
The vegetable has also grown well due to favourable weather conditions, farmers say.
Local Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials said the farmers started harvesting Kheera at Akkelpur, Pachbibi, Kalai, Khetlal and Sadar upazila on a small scale from the first week of this month.
The harvesting is expected to gain its pace from next month if the weather remains favourable.
Muslim Rahman, 45, a trader of Akkelpur, told FE that the fresh vegetable is being sold at Tk 30 to 40 per kg according its quality and size in the retail market while the wholesale market rate is Tk 25 to 28.
To bring an acre of land under Khira cultivation, a grower spends nearly Tk 18000 to 20000, according to sources.
“I have produced the vegetable on 23 decimals of land spending Tk 13000,” said farmer Jalil Uddin of Khetlal upazila.
“I have already sold some 10 maunds of Kheera for Tk 15,000 and the remaining amount could be sold for nearly Tk 20,000” he added.
Azizar Rahman, a DAE official said, “We have encouraged the growers to bring more land under Kheera cultivation instead of other Rabi crops.”