NATORE, Nov 06: Commercial cultivation of water spinach is gaining popularity among the grassroots peasants in the district.
High market demand and fair prices of the leafy vegetable have also brought smile on the faces of hundreds of poor farmers in the district.
The Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) provided quality seeds to the farmers so that they can get a good production.
The Department Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources said farmers sowed seeds of the leafy vegetable in September last and started harvesting the crop from the last week of October, said farmer Abdul Ali Molla of Boraigram upazila.
During a recent visit in some kitchen markets in the district this correspondent found each kg of water spinach is being sold at Tk 15 to Tk 20 in the retail market and Tk 10 to Tk 15 in the wholesale market.
"I have cultivated water spinach on four decimals of land in this season investing Tk 2,500," said farmer Akkash Hossain of Shingra upazila.
"I have already sold some two and a half maunds of the item at Tk 5,500 and expecting to over Tk 12,000 more till the last week of January." he added.
Deputy Director of DAE Rafiqul Islam said water spinach cultivation is profitable. Growers should bring more land under the farming of the popular vegetable every season.
