RANGPUR, Oct 24: The farmers at different areas in the district are showing their interest in farming red spinach (Lal Shak) due to good profit.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources said, the farmers of eight upazilas including Rangpur Sadar, Mitha-pukur, Taraganj, Pirganj, Badarganj, Pirgachha are expected to grow huge quantity of leafy vegetables this year including red spinach as they prefer cultivating vegetables to other crops.
In recent times farming of leafy vegetables has increased across the district and its adjacent areas because of huge demand. Its farming has become lucrative as well, sources further said.
A good number of farmers are growing different varieties of leafy vegetables including red spinach on both their homesteads and other lands and they are getting financially benefited by selling their produces in markets.
While visiting different villages of some upazilas this FE correspondent found the farmers busy in taking care of their vegetable fields.
"It was difficult for us to afford the expenses of our families by growing paddy only but leafy vegetable farming is now giving us adequate profit to ease our financial constraints,' some growers added.
"I have earned Tk 25,000 so far by growing red spinach on 35 decimals of land", said Shahadat Miah, a farmer of Palichara village under Rangpur Sadar. Baten Mia (50), a farmer at Nabdiganj village under Pirgachha upazila of the district said, he earned Tk 20,000 by cultivating Lal Shak on 25 decimals of land.
Harvesting of leafy vegetables including red spinach can be started within 25 to 30 days after sowing seeds, he added.
Traders from across the country are purchasing the vegetables and transporting those to their respective areas, sources said.
"I can buy adequate fresh vegetables from different markets of Rangpur district at low cost," said Shamim, a trader from Dhaka.
According to DAE sources due to early farming of different leafy vegetables including red spinach peasants can earn good profit from the sale of their produces.
DAE also assists the cultivators by providing them with required advices as well as agri-inputs, sources added.
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Red spinach farming expands in Rangpur on impressive profit
Our Correspondent | Published: October 24, 2018 21:09:04
A farmer weeding his red spinach field in Palichara village under Rangpur Sadar on Wednesday — FE Photo
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