Farmer Mehdi's dream of extra income from gourd cultivation in fisheries project

Fisherman farmer md. Mehdi Hasan Madhu. After completing his studies, he became self-reliant by farming fish without chasing after a job for a few years. 70 percent of the land is being farmed in modern ways by making fish enclosures. This year, according to the advice of the Department of Agriculture, besides cultivating various types of vegetables around the fisheries project, they have also cultivated Thai varieties of Lau King Myna and Diana by making machang rafts on the water.

Fish farmer Mehedi Hasan Madhu is the son of Osman Gani of Shrutidhar village of Bhotmari union in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat.

Mehdi spent twenty-five thousand taka to grow gourds on 70 percent of the land's fish enclosure. Now he is selling 100 to 150 pieces of gourd every week. Its current wholesale price is Tk 30 to Tk 40 depending on the copy size.

Although it is normal to cultivate vegetables in fish projects or on the banks of ponds in the district, this is the first time to cultivate vegetables by making machangs or rafts on the water. Farmer Henna was not willing to build a raft on the water and cultivate gourds. But he is happy to get a bumper yield now by cultivating according to the advice of the agriculture department. Seeing his cultivation, many others in the area have shown interest in cultivating gourds by the pond.

Mehdi Hasan Madhu said, we are cultivating gourd with the help of agriculture department. He would have needed another piece of land to cultivate gourds, but as he cultivated the Thaikin variety of water-tolerant gourds on the water in the fish enclosure, no additional land was needed. He is selling gourds worth four to five thousand rupees every week. Has already withdrawn his original amount.

Farmer Madhu hopes to sell pumpkins worth around Tk 150,000 from this floating gourd garden. Many people are encouraged by the success of his machang or velaya gourd cultivation. This method is becoming popular day by day.

Sub-assistant agricultural officer in charge of polling union. Faridul Islam said, we are constantly encouraging farmers to cultivate multiple crops on the same land using modern methods. We also have a system to train farmers with training so that they can grow vegetables and other crops on uncultivated land and become self-sufficient.

Bangladesh /OF