Rajshahi arum growers happy over fair price

RAJSHAHI, Aug 25: The local farmers are happy over getting fair price of arum
this year.
The cultivators are now plucking local variety of arum known as 'Latiraj' which is a favourite vegetable.
Due to increasing demand and good market price, the farmers of the vast Barind tract became happy. In retail market, per kg arum is being sold at Tk 30 to 35.
Farmers cultivated arum on more lands this year because of suitable land, favourable weather and necessary support from local agricultural department. Besides, low labour and farming cost have led growers to cultivate arum commercially.
Farmer Abul Kalam of Bhabanipur Village in Paba Upazila said about 80 to 100 maunds of arum is produced in per bigha of land.
Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Rajshahi said "Mukhi" variety of arum was cultivated on 400 hectares of land and "Pani" variety on 159 ha of land in Rajshahi this time.
However, due to losses last year, the cultivation decreased a little this year. Arum is cultivated more in Durgapur and Bagha upazilas of the district.
Farmer Shahzaman, 25, of Debipur Village in Durgapur Upazila said now per kg "Latiraj" variety of arum is being sold at Tk 30 to 35 in local markets and the price will double after two to three months. Due to high taste and nutritional value than other vegetables, its demand is also increasing.
Arum cultivation needs no pesticide. Cattle head don't eat arum plants and no extra labour is required to look after it.
Deputy Director of Rajshahi DAE Dev Dulal Dhali said due to low risk in arum cultivation, they are advising farmers to cultivate arum on more lands.
Farmers are interested to cultivate arum because this is five-time more profitable than paddy cultivation.