RANGPUR, Apr 09: The sajina (drumstick) growers of the district are in joyous mood as they have been witnessing a congenial weather condition this year which made them hopeful about attaining an excellent production of their produce.
They are also making impressive profit from the sale of the produce which is encouraging others to grow the vegetable on their lands as well.
Visiting different areas of the region including some villages under Mithapukur and Pirganj upazila this FE correspondent found many cultivators harvesting their produces.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Rangpur official sources, around 5,700 tonnes of sajina production is expected in the region from about 42,500 trees of eight upazilas in the district this season.
From the region, a huge quantity of vegetables including sajina is being transported to different markets of other districts including the capital city every day, sources said.
According to farmers sajina farming has become lucrative in recent years. Its cultivation process is easier as well. It can be grown in homesteads as well as other lands, they added.
Nuru Mia, a farmer at Islampur village under Mithapukur upazila said he has been cultivating sajina for the last few years. Last year he earned around Tk 50,000 from its sale in markets. This year he is expecting more profit if the weather remains favourable, he added.
Shahrul Huda another sajina grower of Vendabari of Pirganj upazila said this year so far he has earned a profit of Tk 15,000 and is expecting to make more during the rest of the season.
Sajina is a nutritious vegetable and its flowers, roots and seeds are used as herbal medicine, physicians say.
DAE sources said that early harvesting of sajina ensures a good profit for the growers. Its present price is also satisfactory. Farming of sajina and some other vegetables has brought significant changes in the socio-economic condition of the peasants across the region, sources added.
