M. A. Awal, Narsingdi :
Farmers have been cultivating arum in different areas of the district including of Kachikata, Khedirpur, Har Manddaliya, Hatirdiya of Monohardi upazila, Shayednagar, Putia, Baroterkandi, Shadarchar, Bagabo, Brahmondi, Noadia, Lampur of Shibpur upazila and Amlabo, Charvelabo, Baroycha of Belabo upazila for long.
About 20-25 trucks of arum leves and mother arum (Latiraj Kochu) are sent from the district to Karwan Bazar, Shyam Bazar and different other kitchen market of Dhaka and other parts of the country every day.
Farmers and local traders of Kundarpara arum market in Shibpur upazila demanded building of an arum processing zone here.
In this season new farmers brought a vast tract of land under the arum cultivation as it proved profitable. It rieeds less production cost then any other crop. It is the only crop that requires no pesticide. The farmers have shown their interest in the farming as it is almost a natural calamity-free crop.
In local kitchen markets one kg Latiraj is being sold and Tk 40 and one maund Tk 1600.
Locally known as Latiraj arum is a favorite vegetable of many people. Arum cultivation has brought fortune for many farmers in the district with its bumper production and high profit this season.
The good arum harvest has been attributed to suitable soil, favourable weather and necessary help from the local agriculture officers.
Shuvon Kumar Dar Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Narsingdi Extension said Arum is an environment friendly.
The agriculture department has been advising farmers on cultivating arum of the high yield variety.
Jiten Roy, a farmer of Dogoriya village, said this year he has cultivated 50 decimal of land with a cost of Taka 10,000. So far he earned Taka about 80000 by selling the Arum and is expected to earn more than Taka 50000 by selling the rest Arum in this field.
Similarly Tushar Pal of Borabo Village and Borabo village narrated their success story that their net profit is over taka 100000 to 120000 every year from Honey arum farming from their 40 decimal lands only.
Different varieties of arum are cultivated in the district including white and red colour. Almost all the varieties are grown in the water loggd areas. The cultivation of Latiraj variety is gaining poplarity among the farmers as it is about five times more profitable tan paddy farming.
