The cultivation of snake gourd, popularly known as chichinga in Bangladesh, is gaining momentum in Joypurhat and some other districts this season. Its farming increased in the district and some other parts of the country.
The farmers have been benefiting from the cultivation of snake gourd.
A good number of farmers of Joypurhat said they are happy over the production and present market price. "We are making good profit from the vegetable", said one of the farmers.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources said Akkelpur, Kalai, Panchbibi, Khetlal and Sadar upazilas of Joypurhat district are well-known for producing quality snake gourd.
Over 180 hectares of land have been brought under farming of the item.
Sub-assistant agriculture officer of DAE Azizur Rahman said that some 120 grassroots farmers in the area are benefited from the high production of the vegetable.
The official further said that the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has taken a project for expanding chichinga production in the district.
Alal Hossain of Dighor area under Panchbibi upazila said he cultivated snake gourd on 22 decimals of land spending Tk 2,000.
The grower said that he has started harvesting the vegetable from the beginning of May. Each kg of vegetable is selling at Tk 30 to Tk 35 in the local market.
Moreover, per maund(40kg) of chichinga is being sold at Tk 1200 to Tk 1400 in the wholesale market. Deputy Director of DAE Shudhindranth Roy said, "We encourage cultivators to expand the cultivation of chichinga for more profit."
