Photo: BSS

Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, July 3, 2025 (BSS) - Cultivation of pesticide-free vegetables on 
pond banks, homesteads and fallow and char lands adopting eco-friendly 
agricultural technologies is becoming popular among farmers in Kawnia upazila 
of the district.
 
Inspired by officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), 
farmers in different villages and char areas are cultivating vegetables like 
gourd, beans, sweet pumpkin, cabbage, cauliflower, coriander leaves, carrot, 
brinjal, tomato and other vegetables.
 
Talking to BSS, farmers Tauhidur Rahman, Abdul Malek and Belal Hossain of 
Char Harin Sharma village in the upazila said they have started harvesting 
their pesticide-free vegetables and reaping excellent profits following 
lucrative prices in local markets.
 
Similarly, Swadhin Mian and Mohammad Asaduzzaman of Char Taluk Shahbaz 
village and Abdul Hakim of Khopati village in the upazila said they have 
cultivated vegetables on their pond banks, homesteads and fallow lands this 
season.
 
Abdul Hakim told BSS that he has achieved commendable success in generating 
additional profits through pesticide-free gourd cultivation in addition to 
his dairy farm on the pond banks and adjoining areas in his village.
 
Hundreds of hybrid varieties of 'Diana' gourds hang from bamboo-made 'Macha' 
or 'Jhangi' (overhead fence) on the edge of the pond, where he simultaneously 
farming fish.
 
He has constructed overhead fences using bamboo, wire and yarn and hired 
workers to combat insect infestation using pheromone traps, light traps and 
other natural methods.
 
This pond is filled with hybrid gourd plants and has turned green with an 
eye-catching look, making Hakim widely known as an "Exemplary poison-free 
vegetable farmer" in the area.
 
He also cultivates beans and other vegetables along the pond year-round, 
making the best use of the land, producing the maximum amount of crops and 
making the most profit.
 
"I usually sow gourd seeds in early April and harvest begins in mid-May, when 
the gourds start to become visible and start hanging on the fence overhead 
and continue until November every year," he said. 
 
After finishing harvesting the gourds, Hakim will start harvesting beans, 
cabbage, cauliflower, coriander leaves, eggplant and other vegetables 
cultivated on the banks of his pond and the adjacent 20 decimals of the land 
from November to February.
 
Local Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officer (SAAO) Md Mohar Ali said that many 
farmers like Abdul Hakim are earning a good income from integrated farming of 
fish and vegetables.
 
Field level agriculture officials are inspiring farmers in cultivating 
chemical pesticide free vegetables adopting latest technologies and agronomic 
management.
 
"After getting repeated bumper production with the lucrative price of 
pesticide-free vegetables in recent years, people in the mainland and char 
areas have cultivated the same on more lands across Kawnia upazila this 
season," said Mohar Ali.
 
Kawnia upazila agriculture officer agriculturist Tania Akhter said the 
interim government is implementing various programmes to enhance production 
of pesticide-free vegetables adopting eco-friendly agricultural technologies.
 
"Following motivational activities being conducted by field level agriculture 
officials, cultivation of pesticide-free vegetables continues increasing to 
enhance production of poison-free vegetables in the upazila," she added. 
 
She said farmers have been expanding cultivation of pesticide-free vegetables 
using composts and organic pesticides without using chemical pesticides to 
produce more hygienic vegetables and reap more profits.