Off-season pumpkin cultivation makes peasants happy

Roving Correspondent | Published: November 10, 2018 21:09:14 | Updated: November 22, 2018 16:44:04

A view of a pumpkin field in Manikpara village under Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat — FE Photo

JOYPURHAT, Nov 10: Off-season pumpkin cultivation is gaining popularity among the grassroots growers in Akkelpur upazila of the district.
Sources said peasants are making Tk 30,000 to Tk 40,000 from the produce growing in a bigha of land.
A small pumpkin is selling at Tk 40 to Tk 50, middle one Tk 60 to Tk 80 and a large pumpkin at Tk 100 to Tk 120 in the local kitchen market.
A good number of farmers told this correspondent that they are getting good yield this season.
Moreover, good price and market demand encourage the farmers to expand the cultivation of the vegetable.
To grow pumpkin in an acre of land, farmers invest around Tk 40,000 to Tk 50,000.
Profit around Tk 0.2 million to Tk 0.3 million can be possible from the produce in the area, said sub-assistance agriculture officer of DAE Azizur Rahman.
"I have cultivated pumpkin on 12 decimals of land this season spending Tk 5,000", said Abdul Wadud Haque of Akkelpur upazila.
"A total of 250 pumpkins were produces in my land and I sold them at Tk 15,000", he added.
Deputy Director of DAE Sudhindanath Roy said pumpkin farmers made a good profit last year and are expecting that their earning will be doubled this season.
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