BSS, Rangpur :
The expanding pumpkin cultivation on the sandbars in dried-up riverbeds and char areas continues changing fortune of the poor char people in Rangpur agriculture region.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and NGOs said pumpkin cultivation in relay methods with other crops on the silted-up riverbeds and char lands in all five districts of the region is expanding during the last eleven years.
Some 50,000 char families, living by the riversides and in char areas of Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha districts of Rangpur agriculture region, have changed fortune through pumpkin cultivation on the sandbars.
“Cultivation of pumpkin along with other winter crops in relay-method continues improving livelihoods of many char people,” said Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist Mamunur Rashid.
“Some 25,000 char families have expanded pumpkin cultivation on char lands adopting intercropping methods in about 300 char villages of the agriculture region with the assistance of RDRS Bangladesh alone,” he said.
Similarly, Manager (Agriculture) of Practical Action Bangladesh (PAB) Agriculturist Nirmal Chandra Bepari said over 23,000 char families with the support of the DAE and PAB have expanded pumpkin cultivation on sandbars in 200 char villages since 2009.
Talking to BSS, Abdur Razzaque, Kobiza Khatun and Morsheda Begum of village Paschim Mohipur in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur narrated their success stories of winning poverty through pumpkin cultivation.
They have spent Tk 15,000 on an average each for cultivating pumpkin on 200 sandbars each this season to sell the produce at Tk 40,000 to earn a net profit of Tk 25,000 by each of them after completing harvest by next month.
Chan Mian and Abdur Rahim of Dhushmara Char village in Kawnia upazila of
Rangpur said they have cultivated pumpkin with other crops like banana, onion, garlic, vegetables, green chili, potato and brinjal on char lands this time.
“We have spent Taka 8,000 for farming pumpkin on 100 sandbars each to sell the produce at Taka 20,000 and earn a net profit of Tk 12,000 each after completing harvest by May this season,” said Chand Mian.
Mostafizar Rahman of nearby Char Najirdaho village said he has cultivated pumpkin on one acre of land spending Tk 12,000 and already sold harvested pumpkin at Tk 20,000 with an expectation of selling more pumpkin at Tk 20,000 by May next.
Talking to BSS, Kawnia Upazila Agriculture Officer Agriculturist Md. Saiful Alam said many char villagers have become self-reliant by cultivating pumpkin along with sweet potato, banana and other crops on the sandbars.
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur Agriculturist Dr. Md. Dr Sarwarul Haque said farming cost of pumpkin is low and farmers reap more profit from its cultivation on the sandbars.
“The char people have cultivated pumpkin on more char lands this season without using pesticides in over 45 char villages of Gangachara, Kawnia and Pirgachha upazilas of Rangpur district alone,” he added.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Agriculturist Md. Moniruzzaman said char people are expanding pumpkin cultivation after getting repeated bumper output with lucrative price every year in recent times.
