Widowed woman Tapu Biswas becomes self-reliant through vegetable farming in Khulna. Photo: BSS

KHULNA, June 27, 2025 (BSS) - Defying poverty and hardship after the death of her husband, a widowed woman in Khulna's Dumuria upazila has transformed her life through vegetable farming, becoming a symbol of resilience and self-reliance for other women in her community.

Tapu Biswas, a resident of Bamundia village under Kharnia union, has become a successful farmer by cultivating vegetables on 40 decimals of roadside land left behind by her late husband. Through her dedication and hard work, she has achieved financial independence.

Talking to BSS on Friday, Tapu Biswas said, "I used to spend my time idly after finishing household chores. But after starting pointed gourd (potol) farming on my land, I now earn about Taka 2 lakh per year."

Tapu manages all the work herself -planting seeds, irrigating, maintaining and harvesting- and ensures her crops are free from chemical pesticides.

"Now I can feed my family safe vegetables," she said proudly.

Inspired by her success, many local women are also turning to farming. Tapu provides them with advice and support. She hopes to expand her farming if given institutional backing.

"Every morning, I begin my day by tending to my pointed gourd garden. Since it's a creeping plant, potol grows best on bamboo trellises and vertical ropes. This method ensures high yields and good profit," she explained. 
 "As a woman farmer, I started cultivating vegetables after meeting my family's needs and saw a good profit from selling the surplus in local markets. A thought inspired me: if men can do it, why can't I? 

Encouraged by a neighbor's advice, I began vegetable farming near my home," she recounts her early days.

"I manage all the farming tasks, applying fertilizers, sowing seeds, irrigating, and caring for the crops. The most important aspect is that I grow chemical-free vegetables for my family, which is crucial since most market produce is contaminated with excessive fertilizers and pesticides harmful to health," she added.

By selling my surplus vegetables in the local market, I earn around Taka 2 lakh annually. This income helps cover my children's education expenses and meet other family needs. 

Inspired by my success, many women in my community are now turning to vegetable farming and becoming self-reliant.

When others come to me for guidance, I always offer full support and encouragement. With more institutional support, I hope to expand my vegetable farming operations even further, she said with determination.

Tapu remained resilient and focused on farming with renewed enthusiasm. She surprised everyone by successfully cultivating pointed gourds using with eco-friendly mulching method.

I went through hardship with my son after my husband Umapad Biswas died on September 9, 2021. 

Her late husband Umapad Biswas had earned too little income from agro-works and buying and selling vegetables. To alleviate their poverty, Tapu involved her son Utso Biswas, who is now a student of the Department of Computer Science at Khulna Northern University, in farming and cultivating other crops like peppers and gourds, ensuring her family's sustenance and education.

Tapu shared, "I have suffered a lot in my life. When I got involved in farming, our family's lack began to disappear. I managed my son's education and family expenses by selling these vegetables. This land saved me and gave me honour. Now, I live fairly well with my only son."

Ibne Amin Tuhin, Agricultural Officer of Dumuria Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), emphasized that pointed gourd is now a high-value crop. Promoting awareness of the mulching method could significantly benefit farmers by enabling early and profitable cultivation of pointed gourds. 

Pointed gourd is a high-yield and in-demand vegetable, and the soil in this region is particularly suitable for its cultivation. If this farming practice is expanded, it could bring significant change to our agricultural economy, he added.