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Marginal farmers benefit from arum farming in Thakurgaon 

Published : Monday, 19 August, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 78
Asaduzzaman Asad
THAKURGAON, Aug 18: Marginal farmers are benefiting from arum cultivation in the district. They are delighted to get good profits and becoming self-reliant.

At the same time, other farmers are also getting benefits. They are becoming financially solvent.
In different upazilas of the district, both small farmers and traditional farmers are increasing their lands of arum cultivation. 
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) is encouraging the arum cultivation.
Arum is enriched with huge Vitamin A,B,C, calcium and iron.  
 
According to market sources, arum growers are getting good market demand and good price of their produce at local markets.  

According to field sources, there are arum fields in different areas in Sadar Upazila, Pirganj, Baliadangi, Horipur and Ranishankail upazilas in Thakurgaon District; many arum growers from the marginal section have been self-reliant; and they are living well. 

Mainly two types of arum, white and black, are cultivated.

According to sources at the DAE, the arum cultivation is increasing; this season, arum was cultivated on 65-75 hectares (ha) of land against 55-60 ha in the previous season.

This season, the total arum production was targeted at 2,500-3,000 maunds; but the production has already exceeded the target, higher by about 300-500 maunds, compared to the last year's.

The arum is cultivated in Kachubari Bari area at Awlia Union in Sadar Upazila at a large scale.

Local arum growers Rayhanur Islam and Abdul Mazid said, they cultivated  arum on 4-6 bigha land; in the last season, they got profit of Tk 55,000-60,000 per bigha. And this year time, they got Tk 60,000-70,000 per bigha.

Grower A Malek of Dangipara Village in Horipur Upazila said, "I cultivated arum on two bigha land; arum farming does not require insecticide; but it needs irrigation and chemical fertiliser; this year's weather was fair for arum; and the yielding is also higher than last season's.

At present, per kilogram (KG) arum is selling at Tk 100 while per kg arum lube is selling at Tk 50 at local markets.

"Kitchen item traders are coming to us to purchase both arum and lube. After lifting the arum, we will cultivate Aman on these lands," they added.

Growers Mahidul Haq of Ranishonkoil Upazila and Shahadat Hossain of Nandua Union said, per bigha farming cost is Tk 15,000-20,000 while the per bigha profit is Tk 60,000-70,000.

"It takes two times of weeding, and, if organic manure is applied, the yielding is higher," they added.

They sold per kg arum at Tk 40-45 to retail traders.

Another Dulal Uddin of the same union said, after few months of sapling planting, new arums can be lifted and marketed.

"The farming cost is less. I cultivated arum on several decimals of land," he added.

Ranishonkoil Upazila Agriculture Officer Sanjoy Debnath said, arum leaf is a poison-free vegetable; the arum leaf contains huge Vitamin A,B,C, calcium, and iron; and this season, about five acres of land were brought under the arum in the upazila.

"We welcome arum growers on behalf of the DAE; and they will be assisted always," he added.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Rubel Hossain said, farmer's interest in arum farming is increasing day by day;  arum farming requires short time, less labour; market demand and price are good.

Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Krishna Ray said, compared to past years, the arum cultivation has been increased largely in Sadar Upazila; arum growers got unexpected success in arum farming over last five years.

DAE-Thakurgaon  Deputy Director Md Sirajul Islam confirmed arum cultivation expansion in all upazilas.
Many farmers have been solvent by farming arum, he said. But they are yet to start commercial farming of arum, he added.

He further said, if the arum cultivation comes under modern system, commercial arum farming can create a revolution in the district.

In addition to boosting the district economy, the arum can contribute to the national economy, the DAE official maintained.



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