BOGURA, Dec 04: Cultivation of water chestnut, locally known as 'Paniphal', has brought financial solvency to the grassroots peasants in the district.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said a good number of growers in Dupchanchia, Kahaloo, Adamdighi, Sonatola, Sariakandi, Shajahanpur, Gabtoly, Shibganj and Sadar upazilas had started growing the fruit a decade ago on experiment basis.
Now the district is well-known for commercial water chestnut production, sources added.
DAE officials said chestnut is growing in some 20 hectares of water body area in the district. More than 300 people are directly engaged with the farming of the indigenous fruit.
"I have cultivated water chestnut in 30 decimals area of water body this season spending Tk 3,000", said farmer Milon Rahman of Ranobagha village under Nandigram upazila.
The farmer said he has already sold some 12 maunds of the produce this season.
Farmers plant the seed of the fruit in dry season in the water body and they start harvesting the produce from October.
Each kg of water chestnut is being sold at Tk 20 to Tk 25 in the local market It is Tk 18 to Tk 19 in the wholesale markets.
Deputy Director of DAE Nikhil Chandra Biswas said farmers can make Tk 0.1 million to Tk 0.2 million profit from a hectare of water body.
Growers should expand the production of water chestnut, he added.
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