Early cucumber has been grown on about 60 hectares of land in Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur. Farmers are turning to cucumber because it is cheap to grow and pays well in a short time. Favourable weather has brought a bumper yield this season, and satisfactory prices at market have left farmers smiling. After meeting local demand, the cucumbers are sent by truck every day to Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and other districts.
According to the upazila office of the Department of Agricultural Extension, early cucumber has been grown on about 60 hectares in Madarganj this season. About 2,000 tonnes of cucumber are expected from this land. The yield has been good because the weather has been favourable.
Farmers said cucumber is now selling at Tk 30 to 40 a kg at wholesale markets and Tk 50 to 60 a kg at retail. Because cucumber costs relatively little to grow and is likely to be profitable, interest in early cucumber has grown among farmers this year.
In various parts of the upazila, cucumber fields stretch one after another. Yellow and white flowers bloom on the trellises, and cucumbers hang in rows. Some farmers are irrigating their land, some are tending the plants, and others are picking cucumbers and packing them into sacks, which are taken to market by auto-rickshaw. This year farmers have grown several improved varieties, including Green Beauty, Jadu, Zinnia and Moynamoti.
“Cucumber plants begin to bear fruit within 30 to 35 days of sowing,” said Saidur Rahman, a farmer from Phuljor in Jorkhali union. “The yield has been good this time, and prices at market are good too. If yield and prices hold like this, cucumber farming can be profitable.”
Toiyob Ali, a farmer from Nangla in Balijuri union, said growing cucumber costs Tk 15,000 to 20,000 a bigha. “With a good yield, the cucumbers from a bigha can be sold for about Tk 30,000 to 40,000. But the real profit depends on the cost of labour, irrigation, fertiliser and marketing. We are happy because prices are good this time. I plan to grow cucumber on more land next year.”
“Early cucumber has been grown on about 60 hectares in Madarganj this year,” said Md Habibur Rahman, the upazila agriculture officer. “Farmers are using modern mulching methods. About 2,000 tonnes of cucumber are expected in the upazila. The soil and land here suit cucumber, which is why cultivation grows every year. The yield has also been good because the weather has been favourable.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report