More land brought under tomato cultivation

Farmers have brought more land under tomato cultivation in the district this year thanks to the good profit they made from tomato farming last year.

According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, this year tomatoes are being cultivated on 1,835 hectares, which is 76 hectares more than the land cultivated for the fruit last year. Farmers have started to cultivate tomatoes on 1,350 hectares in Sadar upazila itself.

The sources say that a vast tract of land in the Brahmaputra river basin in five unions—Laxmirchar, Tulsirchar, Narundi, Ranagachha and Sharifpur—have come under tomato cultivation this year.

Besides, tomato farming has started in 40 hectares in Sarishabari, 20 hectares in Melandaha, 340 hectares in Islampur, 15 hectares in Dewanganj, 45 hectares in Madarganj and 25 hectares in Bakshiganj in the current season.

Abdul Jalil, a farmer of Moheshpur Kalibari village in Sadar upazila, said that the market value of tomato is good. He expressed hope to get a net profit Tk 80,000 from per bigha against the production cost of Tk 15,000–20,000. Another farmer, Raj Mahmud Sheikh, of the same village says that per mound of tomato is being sold in the wholesale market for Tk 1,000–1,200. He expects 120 mounds of tomato from a bigha.

Sources say that over 6,000 farmers in Lakkhir char, Madhyerchar, Ranagachha, Tushirchar, Narundi, Sharifpur, Haripur, Saheberchar, Tebirchar, Gajaria, Mollapara, Rayerchar, Charzaharatpur,Bhatipara, Charpara, Purbapara, Banar, Rangamatiya, Uzanpara and Algirchar in Sadar upazila are cultivating tomato on 1,350 hectares in and around river basin areas.

According to sources, farmers plant tomato seedlings in August- September on high land in their homeyards. In the beginning of October, they plant the saplings in the field. The growers have started harvesting tomatoes since mid-December and will continue to do so till mid-February.

Farmers cultivate various varieties of tomato like Udoyan, Unnoyan, Safal, Kanak and Mangal Raja.

While visiting a vast track of the vegetable field at Char Jatharthapur under Lakkhirchar union, this correspondent saw stout plants full of tomatoes with good pulp.

Everyday around 1,200 tones of tomato are being loaded on about 100 trucks from four wholesale markets. Buyers carry the tomatoes to Dhaka, Chittagong, sylhet, Comilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and other parts of the country. Also, a large number of male and female workers get employed during the season. They get engaged in sorting, packing and loading tomatoes in trucks.

Each of these workers earn Tk 200–350 every day.

M Shakhaowat Ikram, Jamalpur Sadar upazila agriculture officer, attributes the growing interest in tomato farming to favourable weather, good nursing and absence of pest attacks. Officials of the agriculture department closely monitor the farmers and help them boost production, he added.

 

More land brought under tomato cultivation

Farmers have brought more land under tomato cultivation in the district this year thanks to the good profit they made from tomato farming last year. According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources, this year tomatoes are being cultivated on 1,835 hectares, which is 76 hectares more than the land cultivated for the fruit last year. Farmers have started to cultivate tomatoes on 1,350 hectares in Sadar upazila itself. The sources say that a vast tract of land in the Brahmaputra river basin in five unionsLaxmirchar, Tulsirchar, Narundi, Ranagachha and Sharifpurhave come under tomato cultivation this year. Besides, tomato farming has started in 40 hectares in Sarishabari, 20 hectares in Melandaha, 340 hectares in Islampur, 15 hectares in Dewanganj, 45 hectares in Madarganj and 25 hectares in Bakshiganj in the current season. Abdul Jalil, a farmer of Moheshpur Kalibari village in Sadar upazila, said that the market value of tomato is good. He expressed hope to get a net profit Tk 80,000 from per bigha against the production cost of Tk 15,00020,000. Another farmer, Raj Mahmud Sheikh, of the same village says that per mound of tomato is being sold in the wholesale market for Tk 1,0001,200. He expects 120 mounds of tomato from a bigha. Sources say that over 6,000 farmers in Lakkhir char, Madhyerchar, Ranagachha, Tushirchar, Narundi, Sharifpur, Haripur, Saheberchar, Tebirchar, Gajaria, Mollapara, Rayerchar, Charzaharatpur,Bhatipara, Charpara, Purbapara, Banar, Rangamatiya, Uzanpara and Algirchar in Sadar upazila are cultivating tomato on 1,350 hectares in and around river basin areas. According to sources, farmers plant tomato seedlings in August- September on high land in their homeyards. In the beginning of October, they plant the saplings in the field. The growers have started harvesting tomatoes since mid-December and will continue to do so till mid-February. Farmers cultivate various varieties of tomato like Udoyan, Unnoyan, Safal, Kanak and Mangal Raja. While visiting a vast track of the vegetable field at Char Jatharthapur under Lakkhirchar union, this correspondent saw stout plants full of tomatoes with good pulp. Everyday around 1,200 tones of tomato are being loaded on about 100 trucks from four wholesale markets. Buyers carry the tomatoes to Dhaka, Chittagong, sylhet, Comilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and other parts of the country. Also, a large number of male and female workers get employed during the season. They get engaged in sorting, packing and loading tomatoes in trucks. Each of these workers earn Tk 200350 every day. M Shakhaowat Ikram, Jamalpur Sadar upazila agriculture officer, attributes the growing interest in tomato farming to favourable weather, good nursing and absence of pest attacks. Officials of the agriculture department closely monitor the farmers and help them boost production, he added.