BSS-01 Tomato cultivation changes farmers’ lifestyle in Rajshahi

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BSS-01

TOMATO-PROSPECT (with picture)

Tomato cultivation changes farmers’ lifestyle in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI, Jan 6, 2018 (BSS) – Tomato cultivation is playing a vital role
in improving the economic condition of farmers in Rajshahi region, including
its vast Barind tract.

“Many farmers have already changed their fortunes through tomato
cultivation in the region…they can earn between Taka 25,000 to Taka 35,000
by cultivating tomatoes on each bigha of land in a season,” Abdur Rouf, a
farmer of Dewpara village under Godagari Upazila, told BSS.

Although the early varieties of tomato are available in local market,
its price is very high.

“One kilogram of tomato is being sold at Taka 80 in local market. And
that’s why it is beyond the purchasing capacity of lower and lower middle-
income people, like us,” said Ambia Ferdusi Khanam, a housewife living in
Boaliapara of Rajshali city.

The wholesale price of a maund of tomato is now about Taka 2,500 to Taka
3,000, but its price will come down to Taka 100 per maund at the end of this
season, tomato traders said.

Mustafizur Rahman, additional director of the Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE), Rajshahi, said tomato farming is gaining popularity in the
region, particularly in the vast tract of Barind area, since its cultivation
is profitable here.

Cultivation of the cash crop has increased by five to six times during
the last 15 to 20 years due to the introduction of high-yielding and hybrid
varieties of tomatoes and modern technology.

Mustafizur Rahman said tomato, which is now considered as the second cash
crop of the region, plays an important role in economy. More than one lakh
families in the region are now getting direct financial benefit from either
cultivating tomato or its trading, he said.

Dr Shakhawat Hossain, senior scientific officer of Bangladesh Agriculture
Research Institute (BARI), said the soil and climatic condition of the entire
region, including Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj, are very
suitable for tomato cultivation. “So, it is now widely cultivated on the dry
soil of the Barind area.”

Dr Hossain said BARI developed 10 high-yielding and quality varieties of
tomatoes and it has been implementing special programmes to promote those
among the growers through arranging farmers’ training and demonstration plots
in different areas.

The rates of production of the newly developed varieties are
comparatively high and profitable than that of the domestic varieties, he
said.

Besides, different public and private commercial banks, especially
Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (Rakub), are giving credit to farmers to
encourage them to cultivate tomato.

President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries Md Muniruzzaman
said the farmers have to incur loss due to lack of storage facilities here
while thousands of tonnes of tomato get perished every year.

He said it is an urgent to establish tomato processing plants to store
the cash crop aiming to save tomato growers from financial loss.

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