Vegetable cultivation is gaining popularity in Mushuddi Union under Dhanbari Upazila of Tangail district as thousands of farmers have changed their economic condition through it.
Even those who do not have land are also cultivating vegetables commercially on annual contract or lease basis. The residents of Mushuddi Union have revolutionised the local economy by cultivating different varieties of vegetables.
Farmers usually go to the field before dawn. Some have sickles and some have spades or ploughs. They are preparing different types of crops while some are picking vegetables and some are preparing the land. At present, in modern agriculture, the farmers’ land is not fallow.
Talking to this correspondent, many farmers of the union said the agricultural image of Mushuddi has changed due to modern technology, timely agricultural policies and tireless efforts of people. Cultivation of high-yielding varieties of vegetables in addition to rice has changed the fortunes of Mushuddi farmers. The standard of living has changed. Instead of thatched house, many have built semi-concrete houses. Farmers have bought modern agricultural machinery, including tractors. This union is now known as a safe 'vegetable village'.
Sources in Upazila Agriculture Department said perennial vegetables are being cultivated commercially in Mushuddi Union under various projects. Out of 500 hectares of land in the upazila, vegetables are being cultivated on 120 hectares of land in Mushuddi. Apart from providing fertiliser and seeds to the farmers, hands-on training, proper advice and various demonstration projects are being provided. Senior officials are coming to the field and keeping track of the farmers.
While visiting the union, this correspondent found that the vegetables grown on the land of each village of Mushuddi Union are getting special attention. Farmers are tending to crops and vegetables. Someone else is busy working with workers. Farmers are ready to take the fresh vegetables to the market early in the morning. District and local wholesalers are rushing to the field to buy vegetables.
The vegetables being cultivated there commercially are brinjal, green chillies, potatoes, gourds, bitter gourds, tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet pumpkins, dhundal, kankrol, taro root (kachu), mukhi kachu and Latiraj kachu, cauliflower, radish, gourds, beans, okra, papaya, and many others.
Farmers Alamgir Hossain and Bubbuli Begum are busy taking care of dhundal and gourd trees in Mushuddi Kamarpara village. They said apart from paddy cultivation, they cultivate various perennial vegetables periodically throughout the year. Now solvency has returned to the family, they said. Kachulati farmer Al-Amin said, "The hassle and cost is less in kachulati cultivation. It does not require pesticides. Cows and goats do not eat raw material and do not require additional people to look after them. This time I got good yield and price.”
Farmer Milan Mia said, "All the family members grow different kinds of vegetables throughout the year. The economy has developed through the cultivation of vegetables. This thing did not happen in any other cultivation. There is a substantial demand for vegetables in the local market throughout the year.”
Thousands of people, including marginal farmers like Milon, Hormuz Ali, Muslim Uddin and Suman Mia, have seen a radical change in this vegetable cultivation. The entire union has revolutionised the economy.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Masudur Rahman said, “This area is more suitable for vegetable cultivation. Farmers here are very experienced in vegetable cultivation. They brought new vibrancy to the rural economy using advanced agricultural technology. There is an opportunity to export poison-free vegetables from this region abroad.”
