Kurigram arum farmers eye bumper yield

Farmers in different upazilas of Kurigram district are expecting bumper yield of arum, locally known as kachu, this year due to the favourable weather prevailing in the area, encouraging them to cultivate the item on more land.

Many farmers in the district are opting for arum cultivation as its farming is more profitable than the other agricultural items.

Farmers said it rained several times after planting the arum seeds this year which is very good for the cultivation of the popular vegetable.

According to Kurigram Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) around 315 hectares of land have been brought under arum cultivation in all the nine upazilas of the district this season.

Of the land, about 217 hectares of land have been used for cultivation of Mukhi Kachu while nearly 98 hectares have been brought under Pani Kachu this year.

“I have cultivated arum of Mukhi variety on 1.5 acres of land and expect bumper production this year,” said farmer Mizanur Rahman Raju, 42, of Harishwar Kaloa village in Kurigram Sadar upazila.

“I planted the seeds in April this year and hopefully will be able to harvest the vegetable by the end of July,” Raju added.

Dhiren Chandra Roy, 50, an arum farmer at Shivram village in the upazila, said, “I have spent Tk 10 thousand for cultivation of arum of Mukhi variety on 33 decimals of land and expect a profit of around Tk 40 thousand.”

“If I had cultivated other crops, I wouldn't have gained as much profit,” he added.

Sadar Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Kamruzzaman said arum is tolerant to natural calamities and it requires no pesticide.

As it can be cultivated on low lands, its production cost is very low as well, the officer said.