Farmers frustrated over low quality cabbage seeds at Mohonpur

RAJSHAHI, Oct 14: Mohonpur upazila among the nine upazilas of the district is famous for vegetables cultivation. More than 1,000 tonnes of various vegetables grown here are supplied to different districts including the capital Dhaka every season. But this year the farmers are worried as they might not get expected production since they planted low quality cabbage seeds which they bought from local traders.
After planting the seeds, the growers found that the cabbage seeds took longer times to grow, and the quality of the plants are also not up to the mark. In this context, they said that they might incur loss in cabbage cultivation this season.
While talking to The Daily Observer, Anam Hossain, a cabbage grower of Tilahari village in the upazila, said, "I cultivated cabbage on two bighas of land this year. But I did not get expected result since the plants did not grow well."
 Aynal Ali of Palsha village of the upazila said, "I'll have to face a huge loss as I had to plant low quality cabbage seeds. The plants have not grown well and are taking more times to be mature. The farmers here cultivated Mangnete-12 and Chono-star species of cabbages in their fields this season."
Meanwhile, the farmers alleged that the concerned local agriculture officials do not monitor the seed trade here, and for this reason they are selling low quality seeds to the farmers and doing brisk business.
While asked about the sale of low quality seeds, Upazila Agriculture Officer Rahima Khatun informed that they have no information and no complaints from the growers in this connection.
She, however, gave assurance of taking necessary steps to bring the seed market under their monitoring system.