BOGRA, Nov 23: Pumpkin production has brought smile on the faces of hundred of ultra-poor peasants in the district this current season.
Deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Protul Cahdra Sarker said, "Pumpkin cultivation is profitable. We have encouraged the farmers to grow the vegetable commercially."
Around 325 hectares of land have been brought under the farming of the vegetable, said DAE officials said. The peasants are getting a good market price, they added.
The growers of the district have purchased quality seed from the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC).
A small size pumpkin is being sold at Tk 30 to Tk 40, middle size one Tk 50 to Tk 70 and big ones at Tk 80 to Tk 100 in the retail market.
The wholesalers usually purchase pumpkin from the peasants directly and send to different districts across the country.
Sub-assistance agriculture officer of DAE Faridur Rahman said, "We have distributed necessary agri-input among the farmer to make the farming programme a success. If they get a good market price, they will bring more lands the vegetable cultivation in the coming years", he added.
