Farmers in the twelve upazilas of the district have attained self-reliance by growing off-season bitter-gourd.
Fair price along with bumper output of the vegetable has brought smile on the faces of thousand farmers in the district, said the officials at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
The cultivators are making a good profit from the item this season, the officials added.
Abdul Mannan, a bitter gourd cultivator of Boro Narayanpur village under Shibganj upazila, said he is selling bitter gourd at Tk 50 to Tk 55 per kg against Tk 20 to Tk 25 last year. He also said he spent Tk 10 to Tk 15 to produce a kg of the vegetable.
"The soil in the area is suitable for cultivation of the vegetable," said sub-assistant agriculture officer of DAE Faridur Rahman.
Farmer Shahidul Islam under Sherpur upazila said he has cultivated bitter gourd on 23 decimals of land during the season spending Tk 12,000. He has already earned a profit of Tk 50,000 and expecting to make over Tk 26,000 from the rest of the item.
Nikhil Chandra Biswas, deputy director of DAE, said farmers produce best quality bitter gourd which has a great demand in markets across the country. They have already provided logistic support, he added.
