A vast, desert like char region of the river Jamuna under Bogura district is now shrouded with greenery.
The erosion-hit people along the river have committed a revolution in agriculture by growing various crops and vegetables in the Charland and thus helping themselves to get rid of poverty. It is learnt, the Cha rland of the river Jamuna remain submerged underwater from June to September. As soon as the water is removed, farmers start to cultivate crops and vegetables in the fertile charland.
Especially, the riverine areas of Sariakandi, Sonatola and Dhunat are suitable to cultivate various crops and vegies like Chilli, Maize, Jute, Paddy, Wheat, Peanut, groundnut, sweet potato, Potato, Garlic, Onion, Kaun, Lentil and Khesari pulse. However, a huge quantity of chilli is grown in the charland. According to a source, chilli has been cultivated on 3,500 hectares of land this year. Some 50 to 70 maunds of chilli are produced in a bigha of land and the dried red-chilli of Bogura region are sold to various places of the country.
The source further mentioned this year some 7,000 metric tonnes of dried red-chilli and 13,000 mt. of green chilli will be produced in the region. The farmers are selling green chilli at Taka 2,600 per maund. Moreover, Maize and Jute have been cultivated on 2,500 and 2,100 hectares of land respectively. Farmers are growing various other crops and vegetables on 16,733 hectares of Charland this year.
Agriculture Office sources of Sariakandi, Sontola and Dhunat Upazilas informed people of more than 65 villages are directly involved in fishing and agriculture hereditarily.
Shahidul Islam, a Chilli farmer of Kazla Kuripara char area informed last year he grew 50 maunds of green chilli in a bigha of land. This year, he also starts to harvest the green chilli and hopes to get a bumper chilli production this year as well.
Masud Ahmed, Agriculture Officer of Sonatola informed, due to the relentless effort of the government, the Department of Agriculture Extension has started to use developed technology in agriculture. Even, in the Charland, farmers are using the up to date technology and improved, quality seed to grow plants.
Abdul Halim, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Sariakandi informed, due to prolonged flooding this year, the emerged charland turned fertile and there was a little pest attack on the chilli plant. As a result, the production cost of the farmers was less with a higher production rate.
