BSS, Narsingdi :
About 5000 poor families in 14 char unions of Sadar, Belabo and Raipura upazilas of the district achieved economic self-reliance through vegetables farming during the last ten years.
Before taking up vegetables farming as the means of their subsistence at least half of them were in abject poverty in the erosion prone sandy chars on the Meghna, Brahamaputra and Arialkha river basins in the district.
Now they are leading a completely changed life with three time meals a day, sanitary facilities and their children are going to schools and madrasas.
Local people said that those who were extremely poor five to six years ago are now leading a happy life only because of the vegetable farming.
They said the poor farmers are being cultivated vegetables on the vast tracts of sandy char areas and growing various vegetables like Korola, Chichinga, Borboti, Potato, Sweet potato, Tomato Bean, Brinjal, Patol, Jhinga, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Onion, Garilic Cauliflower, Groundnut and chilli.
Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Latafat Hossian said with the necessary help and logistic support of Agriculture Extension Department and several NGOs huge quantities of vegetables are being produced in Sadar, Belabo and Raipura upazilas of the district.
DD said vegetable farming have brought a revolutionary change in the rural economy.
He said farmers of the district are now showing interest to produce pesticide and chemical free vegetables and they have started growing chemical-free vegetables using organic manure like vermin-compost.
