RANGPUR, Nov 17, 2018 (BSS) – Some 25,000 char families, mostly victims of
river erosion and landless, changed fortune through farming pumpkin on
sandbars in Rangpur agriculture region in last nine years.
Earlier, these have-nots group landless families had to live in miseries on
the char areas, riverside flood control embankments and highlands due to
abject poverty for many years since becoming victims of river erosion.
However, they are leading comfortable life now through mostly pumpkin
cultivation with assistance of different government and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) in five riverine districts of the region.
Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) at
its regional office Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said char people are showing
interest in pumpkin farming after getting repeated bumper production and
better profits in recent years.
“Some 25,000 char families cultivated pumpkin on sandbars in over 2,000
hectares of char lands in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram and
Lalmonirhat districts under Rangpur agriculture region last season,” he said.
“They produced over 50,000 tonnes of pumpkin (sweet gourd) worth over Taka
500 crore last season in the region,” he said, adding that char people might
bring over 2,500 hectares of char lands under cultivation of the cash crop
this season.
Some NGOs are extending assistance, creating marketing facilities and
providing seed, fertilisers and inputs to char people to assist them cutting
poverty and improve livelihoods through adapting to adverse situation in char
areas.
Mamunur Rashid, senior coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS
Bangladesh, said the organisation already extended assistance to over 3,500
poor families living in remote char areas for expanding pumpkin cultivation
on sandy lands.
“The beneficiary families are sowing pumpkin seed to harvest the crop from
May next to get huge profits in Gangachara and Kawnia upazilas of Rangpur,
Sadar and Nageswari upazilas of Kurigram, Sadar and Aditmari upazilas of
Lalmonirhat,” he said.
Talking to BSS, erosion victim Chand Hossain of Dhushmara Char in Kawnia
upazila in Rangpur said he sowed 3,000 pumpkin plants on char lands last year
and earned Taka 80,000 as net profit after selling his produce.
Mohammad Mostafiz and Aklima Begum of village Char Najirdaho in the same
upazila said they cultivated pumpkin on two acres and 75 decimals of char
lands respectively to earn better profits last year.
Landless char dwellers Jewell Hossain, Golzar Mian, Sohagi Begum and many
others of nearby char village Kawniar Char narrated their success stories of
attaining self-reliance by pumpkin cultivation after winning over poverty.
Char people Bimal Chandra, Shuja Mian, and Anichha Begum of Char Minarpara
village in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur said each of them earned net profit
of Taka 40,000 to 60,000 last year through cultivating and selling pumpkin.
Landless Razzaque, Quasem and Morsheda Khatun of Paschim Mohipur village in
Gangachara upazila also narrated success stories of attaining self-reliance
through pumpkin cultivation to lead affluent life with their family members.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said
pumpkin cultivation on sandy char lands has become popular helping char
people to achieve self-reliance, improve livelihoods and ensure food
security.