NATORE, Feb 13: Due to favourable weather condition and timely supply of necessary agro-input, peasants in Natore district cultivating cucumber, locally known as Khira, are happy.
Getting both fair market price as well as ample output this season encourage the root level farmers to bring vast crop land under cucumber cultivation this season.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources, the peasants of the agro-zone have taken over 68 hectares of land under cucumber cultivation this season aiming satisfactory output.
The farming has exceeded its production target this season due to favourable weather condition and smooth marketing system, DAE added.
Both, government and non-government organisations concerned have taken adequate steps to make the farming a success this season providing all sort of necessary initiative, said sub-assistance agriculture officer Helal Uddin.
He said, low production cost and easy cultivation process made the growers eager in its cultivation across the district this season spending little amount of capital.
Peasant Abdul Hamid under Shingra upazila said he has cultivated the crop on 15 decimals of land by spending about Tk 2,000. He has already earned Tk 11,000 by selling his produce and is hopeful to get more during the rest of the season.
The farmers of the area see deep interest to bring the new crop land under the farming as it is proved that the production cost of the crop is very low compared to other Rabi crops. The farmers need not require more chemical as well as organic fartiliser.
In a recent visit at Boraigram upazila the correspondent found the farmers of the area passing busy time to take care at the cucumber field. They are separating weed from the cropland with speed defying adverse weather condition.
The farmers are selling each maund of cucumber at Tk 1,200 to 1,300 in the retail market while Tk 1,100 to 1,150 in the wholesale market across the region.
The farmers are to pay Tk 10,000 to 12,000 to grow a bigha of land under cucumber production.
