Kurigram farmers increasingly interested in arum cultivation

A section of farmers in the district have started growing arum as it has become a profitable crop and cultivation costs are low.

Makbul Hossen, 47, an arum farmer of Talukkaloa village of Kathalbari union under Kurigram Sadar upazila said “I have cultivated arum of the mukhi variety on five bighas of raised land and am expecting bumper production. I planted the arum seed in the third week of January and harvest began in the third week of July.”

“The variety grows well on land with good drainage. I am a vegetable farmer, but I have been cultivating arum for some years and getting better profits at lower costs,” said Makbul.

“I have spent Tk 80 thousand for arum cultivation and have to spend Tk 30 thousand more for harvesting. I am expecting a net profit of around Tk one lakh 30 thousand as the market price is high. If I had cultivated paddy on the land then I would make a profit of only Tk 15 thousand,” he added.

Shawkat Ali Sarkar, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension said “Arum is an environment-friendly, poison-free and nourishing crop. The agriculture department has been advising farmers on cultivating arum of the high yield variety.”

“Over 343 hectares of land for Mukhi Kachu and over 100 hectares for Pani Kachu have been used for cultivation of arum in the district this year. We advise farmers to cultivate Pani Kachu in marshlands where other crops do not grow well. Arum cultivation is increasing here every year, and farmers are becoming self-reliant,” said Shawkat.