NATORE, Jan 8: Peapod cultivation is increasing here day by day for its less cost in cultivation, irrigation and production; there is also heavy demand in the market, and good market price is also good.
Meanwhile, the farmers of Sadar upazila brought more lands under its cultivation this year than the previous year. This year, they are expecting bumper production of the vegetable due to favourable weather condition.
According to local agriculture office, peapod was cultivated in 640 hectares of land but the target was 120 ha in Sadar upazila which is five times more than the last year.
Sources said, the farmers of Bangabaria, Bamondanga, Dattapara, Lalmonipur, Dharail, Goaldanga and Harishpur villages in the upazila cultivated peapod abundantly this season. They are now busy in harvesting the produce, the sources added.
Sumon Ahmed, a farmer of Bangabaria village said, "I cultivated peapod in one-bigha land this year spending Tk 3,000. If the weather and the market price remain positive, I will earn Tk 8,000 after selling the produce in the market. Many farmers are now cultivating the vegetable as they got much profit from it than paddy cultivation."
Akkel Ali, another farmer of Lalmonipur village said, "I cultivated peapod for its less cultivation and other costs, but the paddy cultivation needs excess irrigation which is very expensive for us."
Abdus Samad, Abul Hossain and Monju Mia of Lalmonipur village said, "We cultivated peapod due to its less cultivation, irrigation and production costs. Tk 3,000 is needed to cultivated peapod in one bigha of land. Around 12 to 14 maunds of the vegetable are produced in per acre, while the market price of the same amount is Tk 24 to 27 thousand."
Upazila Agriculture Officer Saiful Islam said, the peapod, which is produced here, is sent to different parts of the country including Dhaka.
