Villager hits the jackpot with exotic vegetable
When no farmer ever even imagining of growing any other crop but rice in the area, Sadiq Mia of Kulaura upazila has been bring home profits by growing an exotic vegetable named zucchini squash.
Seeing Sadiq making a living successfully by farming zucchini squash for the first time, other residents of the village, West Khadimpara in Baramchal union, are now seriously considering cultivating it.
Sadiq was quite frustrated with his life as he had been living from hand to mouth while working at a private firm.
But only three months back, during his visit home, during a conversation with the deputy assistant agriculture officer in the upazila he found out that the exotic vegetable holds great prospect if it can be grown in the area.
Sadiq was convinced after Abdul Momin, the agriculture officer for Kulaura upazila, also encouraged him to try his hand at the cultivation of zucchini squash in his village and offered all possible professional support.
With the support rendered from the upazila agriculture office and about Tk 50 to 60 thousand that he borrowed from others, Sadiq planted about 2,500 zucchini squash saplings on 90 decimals of land only two and a half months ago.
All the plants produced abundant yields, with each fruit weighing about one or one and a half kilograms. Sadiq said he already sold 200 kg of the squash for taka 3,500 and he hoped that he would make about Tk 3 lakh from its sale this season.
"With texture similar to sweet pumpkin, the vegetable is really delicious... zucchini squash farming has helped me turn the corner," he said with a smile.
Kulaura Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Momin said exotic vegetable zucchini squash grows well in the winter time in the region.
When cultivating rice on one bigha land can generate a maximum profit of Tk 10 to 15 thousand, it is possible to make several lakh taka in profit by farming zucchini squash on the same amount of land, he added.
Fazlul Bari, deputy director of Department of Agricultural Extension in Moulvibazar, said zucchini squash plants prefer loamy soil.
About 2,000 saplings of it can be planted on one bigha land and each plant can yield 10 to 15 kg of the vegetable, he added.
Anil Das was among about a dozen West Khadimpara residents who told this correspondent that after suffering substantial losses from cultivating rice last time and after witnessing Sadiq's success with zucchini squash, they also decided to grow the vegetable on their land in the upcoming season.
Nurul Haque, health and family planning officer at Kulaura Upazila Health Complex, said zucchini squash is rich in carbohydrate, protein and various other nutrients including vitamins A, C, E and K.
Sharaf Uddin, chairman of agro forestry and environmental science department at Sylhet Agricultural University, said nutritious vegetable zucchini squash has high health benefits and it has the potential to be an economically viable crop.