In Kotalipara upazila, within the Kalabari union of Bangladesh, tomato farmers are currently engaging in early cultivation practices, with an aim to navigate through the increasing prices of daily essentials. This season, cultivation has expanded to cover an area of 413 hectares, as reported by the agriculture office in Kotalipara. The initiative has seen participation from approximately 3,265 local farmers.
Dilip Barai, a local cultivator from Nalua village, has invested in the 'UDAYAN' variety of tomatoes, planting it across 11325 square feet of land with an expenditure of $38,000. "Tomato cultivation has begun in full swing," he stated. Ramendranath Halder, a sub-assistant agriculture officer in Kalabari union, highlighted the consistent benefits reaped from early tomato farming in the area.
Amrito Majumder, another farmer from Chalkpukuria village, shared his optimistic outlook for the season, provided the weather conditions remain favorable. He anticipates a yield of 180 maunds of tomatoes, potentially fetching around $2111.00 at the current market rate of $0.3 per kg.
Dolon Roy, the Upazila Agriculture Officer, emphasized the advantageous soil and climatic conditions prevalent in Kotalipara for tomato cultivation. The dedication of local farmers, coupled with the support from field workers like the SAAOs, plays a crucial role in the success of these agricultural endeavors, ultimately leading to substantial benefits for the growers.
Source: Financial Express