Baghmara farmers happy over fair price of radish

RAJSHAHI, Nov 17: Farmers in Baghmara upazila here are very happy over excellent yield of early variety of radish this season with fair market prices of their produce.
Now per maund of radish is being sold at Tk 900 to 1,000 in the different markets of the upazila.   
As a result, the farmers here are becoming more interested in radish cultivation due to its less cultivation cost compared to other crops. The vegetable has great demand among customers, and its cultivation has proved benefitting for the growers.
According to Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of Baghmara upazila, the target of radish cultivation was set at 820 hectares of land, but around 740 hectares of land under 16 unions and two municipalities in the upazila have been brought under its cultivation.
The radish produced here is being supplied to different districts including the capital every day after meeting the local demand, sources added.
While talking to The Daily Observer, Shohidul Islam, a radish grower of Balidapara village, said he cultivated radish on around two bighas of land in previous year and having fair price with bumper radish production, he cultivated three bighas of land this year and got more profit than the previous year. He would cultivate radish in the next year, he hoped.
Abdur Rahman, another farmer of Larupara village, said that he cultivated two bighas of land in this season. He has got a bumper radish production with fair market price. Now per maund radish is being sold at Tk 900 to 1,000 in locals markets, he added.
Vutto Mia, farmer of Kanopara village under Goalkandi union said that he cultivated one bigha of land this season. Meanwhile, he has already sold 36 maunds of radish. He has got double of his production cost and become self-reliant. He would cultivate radish in the next year as well, he added.  
Foyez Uddin, a farmer of Champakuri village, said he cultivated radish on one bigha of land this year and got bumper production. In this connection he had to spend less, and now, he has become self-reliant.
In this way, many farmers of Goalkandi union, Maraia union, Bhabaniganj, Atari, Balidapra, Chanpara, Dashpara and Kathalbaria area cultivated early radish and became benefitted this year.
Razibur Rahman, upazila agriculture officer, said the farmers have become very interested in cultivating radish on their lands as they have been getting bumper yield for the last few years. The current demand of radish here and in other parts of the country is being met with the production here, he added.