BSS, Panchagarh :
Pumpkin cultivation has changed the socio-economic conditions of many farmers of the district in the recent years.
A large number of farmers have engaged themselves in the cultivation of high yield variety (HYV) of pumpkin considering its economic prospect. People of the district cultivate pumpkins at fields as well as on the premises of their houses finding its profitable.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office sources said a total of 900 hectares of land was brought under pumpkin cultivation in all the five upazilas of the district.
Halim Uddin, a farmer of Ramganj Bilashi under Debiganj upazila , is one of the successful pumpkin growers. He cultivated HYV pumpkin on 30 decimals of land. He is expecting to earn over Taka 40,000 this season selling pumpkins.
Halim Uddin said HYV pumpkin seeds can be sowed at any time round the year. But the high time is from the Bengali months of Ashar to Falgun. Harvesting of the vegetable begins after only two months of the sowing.
Each HYV sweet pumpkin creeper produces over 200 pumpkins. A single family can meet its annual demand of pumpkin by sowing only two HYV pumpkin seeds at their courtyard, the farmer said while talking to BSS yesterday.
At the beginning of the season, pumpkin is sold at exorbitant price. A single piece of pumpkin is sold at Taka 25 to 30. Gradually the price comes down with adequate supply. About 4,000 to Taka 5,000 is needed to cultivate HYV pumpkin on one bigha of land, Halim added.
Md Samchul Huque, deputy director of DAE, told BSS farmers in Panchagarh are showing more interest in cultivating pumpkin on more land.
