The farmers of Chatmohar upazila in Pabna are benefiting by cultivating different types of vegetables using scaffold method. The production is increasing as the vegetables are not being wasted.
Farmers are now profiting more than before by cultivating pointed gourd, tomato, gourd, bean, sweet pumpkin, bitter gourd, sponge gourd, winter gourd, luffa, snake gourd, cucumber, asparagus bean and other herbaceous vegetables.
Jahangir Hossain, son of Abul Hossain of Mathurapur village in the upazila said, he and his two friends are farming vegetables on six bighas of land. In this farm, they are cultivating pointed gourd, tomato, gourd, bitter gourd and sponge gourd on the platform. They are creating scaffold by planting bamboo poles, hanging GI wires and spreading jute sticks, nylon yarn and thin GI above them.
They have already spent about Tk one lakh to cultivate tomatoes on two and a quarter bighas of land. They are cultivating Bijli-11 variety of tomato. They expressed optimism that if the market price of tomatoes is good, they will be able to profit around Tk one lakh.
By cultivating in platform, vegetables can be protected from decay. As a result, the yield is doubled. Vegetables are also protected from insects.
According to Chatmohar Upazila Agriculture Office, vegetables have been cultivated in 1,845 hectares of land in Chatmohar this season. Among these, bean has been planted in 200 hectares of land, brinjal in 250 hectares of land, radish in 195 hectares of land, cauliflower in 160 hectares of land, gourd in 145 hectares of land, spinach in 115 hectares of land and cabbage has been planted in 90 hectares of land.
Upazila Agriculture Officer AA Masum Billah said farmers have become aware now. Many farmers have started cultivating climbing vegetables including tomatoes. Although the initial cost of growing vegetables on the platform is high, it is profitable. Other advantages of cultivating vegetables in platform include less wastage of pesticides and vitamins. Weeds at the base of the tree are also easy to clean. Vegetables can be cultivated safely in this method as it is environment friendly.
