BSS, Gaibandha :
As the farmers of Sadullapur upazila here successfully produced summer bean for the first time, the farming has ushered in hope to them to earn economical benefit.
Office sources said Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) took second crops diversification project in 52 upazilas including Sadullapur across the country in 2010.
The objective of the project was to motivate the farmers to farm high value crops, fruits, spices and vegetable to help earn economical profit to change their socio-economic condition and achieve country’s food security.
Accordingly, the officials of Sadullapur upazila agriculture office inspired the farmers of the upazila to farm summer bean in June this year to attain the cherished goal.
In response, a total of 33 farmers of the upazila cultivated summer bean on their high and medium high land for the first time and then, they were able to produce summer bean successfully.
Earlier, the agri officials provided high quality seed and trainings and other technological support to the growers to make the farming a grand success in the upazila.
Shahidul Islam, a farmer of Ambagan village of the upazila, said he farmed the summer bean on three bighas of land this year being motivated by the officials of upazaila agriculture office.
All the plants of the summer bean grew well and they went into flowering stage. Though, some of the farmers started bean harvest in some areas of the upazila, few days would take to start full harvest, he added.
Another farmer Nabizal Haque of the upazila, said many enthusiastic farmers of far flung areas were coming to him and exchanging their views with him on how he farmed summer bean successfully.
Upazila agriculture officer Obaidur Rahman Mondal said at first, the farmers were not interested to farm the summer bean as they thought bean was produced only in winter season.
To see the success of bean farming in summer season, many farmers were crowding his upazila office to collect seed in a bid to farm it on their land, he added.
Regional project manager Mostafizur Rahman said summer tomato, summer bottle gourd, tube rose, gladiolus and Malta fruit had been produced successfully in the upazila in last few years under the project.
