JOYPURHAT, Nov 05: Bottle gourd farmers in the district are making handsome profit this season for fair market prices.
Farming of the vegetable was started in the area in September last and growers started harvesting the produce from the last couple of weeks.
Traders from other neighbouring districts have started visiting the area to purchase the item at wholesale rate from the cultivators directly.
Abdul Zobbar of Khetlal upazila said most of the farmers have achieved a bumper yield of the vegetable.
"Favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary inputs helped us achieved desired production", he added.
"I have cultivated a high-breed variety if bottle gourd in 23 decimals of land spending Tk 5,000", said Akram Hossain of Akkelpur upazila.
The farmer said he has already earned Tk 30,000 this season and is expecting to make profit over Tk 10,000 more.
Each, one and a half kg weighted bottle gourd is being sold at Tk 15 to Tk 20, two-kg one at Tk 30 to Tk 35, three-kg one at Tk 35 to Tk 40 and largest ones at Tk 40 to Tk 45 in the retail market across the district.
Low production cost is one of the main reasons for the popularity of the tasty vegetable, said sub-assistance agriculture officer of DAE Azizur Rahman.
Organic and chemical fertilisers both are used in the farming of the item.
Deputy Director of DAE Sudhindranath Roy said bottle gourd farming helps improve financial condition of the grassroots growers.
Production of the item is profitable for easy cultivation process, high demand, low cost.
