Arum farming makes many people happy in Rajshahi region

708

RAJSHAHI, Aug 28, 2018 (BSS)- Cultivation of arum has brought smiles on the
faces of farmers in Rajshahi region including its vast Barind tract as they
are getting good profit by cultivating it on their lands.

Number of the vegetable farmer and acreage is gradually increasing
everywhere in the region in the wake of its gradually increasing demand and
lucrative market price.

Locally known as ‘Latiraj’, arum is a favourite vegetable to many people.
Arum cultivation has brought fortune for many farmers in the region with its
bumper production and high profit this season.

Monirul Islam, 43, an arum farmer of Bidirpur village of Godagari upazila,
said he has cultivated arum of the mukhi variety on five bighas of raised
land and expecting bumper production. He planted the arum seed in the third
week of January and began harvesting in the third week of July.

He said the variety grows well on land with good drainage. “I am a
vegetable farmer, but I have been cultivating arum for some years and getting
better profits at lower costs”, said Islam.

Golam Mourtoza of Parila under Paba upazila said he cultivated Taro Arum
(MukhiKachu or BoiKachu) and achieved an excellent yield of the crop this
season. He said adding that a farmer can get 2-3 maunds of Taro Arum from
each decimal of land.

“Latiraj variety of arum is plated early January. The harvest starts in
mid-April and the yield continues for eight months till mid-December. A
farmer gets 3 to 5 maunds of yield from each decimal of land,” said Jahid
Hossain, arum grower at Duary village of Pabaupazila.

“Over 500 hectares of land for MukhiKachu and over 150 hectares for
PaniKachu have been used for cultivation of arum in the district this year.
We advise farmers to cultivate Pani Kachu in marshlands where other crops do
not grow well. Arum cultivation is increasing here every year, and farmers
are becoming self-reliant,” said Ali.

At present 1Kg of Latiraj variety arum sells for Taka 30-35 at the local
market and the price is expected to double after two to three months. This
vegetable is in high demand as it is tastier and more nourishing than all
other vegetables.

The good arum harvest has been attributed to suitable soil, favourable
weather and necessary help from the local agriculture offices. A section of
farmers in the region have started growing arum commercially as it has become
a profitable crop and cultivation costs are low.

The farmers are now cultivating arum on commercial basis. Different
varieties of arum are cultivated in the region. Almost all the varieties are
grown in the water-logged areas.

Dev Dulal Dhali, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE) said arum is an environment-friendly, poison-free and
nourishing crop. The agriculture department has been advising farmers on
cultivating arum of the high yield variety.”

Dr Mahbubur Rahman Khan, Professor of Medicine in Rajshahi Medical College
Hospital, described arum as nourishing and tasty vegetable. This vegetable
works as a remedy for different diseases, especially diabetics, he claimed.

SM Mustafizur Rahman, Additional Director of Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE), said, the farmers of the region are expected to grow huge
quantity of arum and other vegetables this year as they prefer cultivating
vegetables to other crops. Use of modern technology and quick compost has
enhanced the production of vegetables significantly, he added.