Pumpkin changes life of Panchagarh farmers

781

PANCHAGARH 2, 2018 (BSS) – Pumpkin cultivation has changed the socio-
economic condition of many farmers of the district this year.

A large number of farmers here involved themselves in HYV pumpkin
cultivation considering its economic prospect. They cultivate pumpkins on
lands and premises of their houses.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said a total of
900 hectares of land was brought under pumpkins cultivation in five upazilas
of the district. Many farmers have started cultivating pumpkins on commercial
basis.

Halim Uddin, a farmer of Ramganj Bilashi under Debiganj upazila is one
of the successful pumpkin growers. He cultivated HYV pumpkin on 30 decimals
of land. He expects to earn over Taka 40,000 this season. Halim Uddin said
HYV pumpkin seeds can be sowed at any time round the year.

Harvesting of the vegetable begins after only two months of the sowing
seeds. It continues for the next three to four months. Each HYV sweet pumpkin
creeper produces over 200 pumpkins.

A single family can meet its annual demand of pumpkin by sowing only
two HYV pumpkin seeds at his courtyard and on an interval of six months, the
farmer told BSS.

At the beginning of the season, pumpkin is sold at exorbitant prices. A
single piece is sold at Taka 25 to 30. Gradually the prices came down with
adequate supply. About 4,000 to Taka 5,000 is needed to cultivate HYV pumpkin
on one bigha of land, Halim Uddin said.

Md, Samchul Huque, deputy director of DAE, told BSS that farmers in
Panchagarh are showing interest in cultivating pumpkin in more lands.