Photo: BSS

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, July 11, 2025 (BSS) -Ujjwal Das, a young diploma engineer from Goalpada village in Dighalia upazila of Khulna, has opened a new horizon in smart agriculture by successfully cultivating bitter gourd using modern farming techniques and mulching film.

Currently working as an entrepreneur at the Dighalia Upazila Digital Center (UDC), Ujjwal has been dedicated to smart vegetable farming for the past two years. Driven by a keen interest in agriculture, he views farming not just as a traditional profession, but as a promising sector for entrepreneurship.

Recently, Ujjwal cultivated the high-yield hybrid variety 'Jharna (F1)' of bitter gourd on 18 decimals of land using the mulching technique. By laying eco-friendly polythene sheets over the soil and planting at specific intervals, he successfully reduced water usage, controlled weed growth, and minimized pest and disease infestations - all while increasing yields and lowering costs.

"I want to spread the message that success in agriculture is possible through the use of technology," Ujjwal told BSS. "With mulching, yields improve, diseases decrease, and soil fertility is preserved."

A graduate of Diploma in Civil Engineering from Khulna City Polytechnic Institute in 2015, Ujjwal turned to farming after struggling to find employment. "I was frustrated, as I couldn't manage to support my five-member family including my wife and son after graduation," he said with a pained voice.

His initial attempts with traditional farming were not fruitful, often leaving his family in financial distress. However, with support from the local Agriculture Office, Ujjwal received vegetable seeds, chemical fertilizers, and eco-friendly mulching polythene to kickstart his smart farming journey.

Using locally sourced bamboo, he built a bamboo trellis for the bitter gourd vines and enclosed the area with nylon nets to protect crops from livestock. Alongside his wife, he worked tirelessly on the field, managing to prepare the land with a cost of only Tk 25,000.

"The bitter gourd cultivation using mulching provided early yields. As a result, I could sell the produce earlier at a better market price," Ujjwal said.

He began cultivation in early January and now earns Tk 1 lakh every three months by selling bitter gourds at Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000 per maund in local markets. The medium-sized gourds, with their mild bitterness, are in high demand among consumers.

Alongside his duties at the UDC, Ujjwal is also expanding smart farming practices to other vegetables, with promising results. His story has inspired many local youths and farmers in the area to adopt similar methods.

Praising the initiative, Dighalia Upazila Agriculture Officer Kishor Ahmed told BSS, "Ujjwal Das's tireless efforts and unwavering initiative in smart agriculture have undoubtedly shone a new light of hope for the future of farming."

He added that bitter gourd is a highly profitable crop, and widespread adoption of the mulching method can significantly benefit local farmers if they are properly trained and informed.

Ujjwal's journey from unemployment to successful agri-entrepreneur is now being seen as a model for youth-driven transformation in the region's agricultural sector.