<i>Making a fortune with summer tomatoes</i>
Cultivation of two varieties of summer tomatoes has changed the lot of a few farmers in the district.
Thirty-five farmers at Roghunathpur and Kullapara villages under Kaliganj upazila are now enjoying solvency with their families for the first time in their lifetimes.
“I do not work in others' plot as a day labourer anymore,” said a beaming Paritosh of Kullapara village.
"Today I hire labourers for my summer tomato field. The vegetable has saved me and my family from poverty,” he said.
Paritosh has recently built a house with bricks and for the first time fitted it with a sanitary latrine.
The success story of Paritosh Kumar and others of the two villages came from cultivating two varieties of BARI-2 and BARI-4 summer tomatoes. As the news of his success spread fast, served others got inspired to grow the moneymaker.
These tomato growers spend most time of the day working at fields with hired labourers. Dream of a good harvest motivates them to do even more hard work.
In 2004, Poritosh got training from Jhenidah agriculture office and started tomato cultivation.
The other successful tomato farmers include, Saiful Islam Chand, Ashraf Ali, Jharu Mondol, Neamot Ali, Shaheb Ali, Monoj Kanti Biswas, Shariful Islam and Momin Mondol.
Saiful Islam proudly announced that the profits from tomatoes are assured because it is harvested in a short time and marketed in summer season.
Poritosh told this correspondent that he planted the seedlings early May and harvested the vegetable from mid July till December.
The cost this year is relatively higher but it will come down next year, he said.
“On 14 decimal of land I spent Tk 35,000 but I have already sold tomatoes worth Tk 20,000 at Tk 50 to 60 per kg. If the weather remains favourable, I shall be able to earn Tk 1.5 lakh this season,” he said.
Others told similar tales describing how the tomatoes brought a radical change in their life and economy.
The demand for tomatoes is always high and the buyers now come to the villages and load their lorries with the vegetable without much bargaining.
“Now I know that demand for tomatoes in the big cities is always very high and in summertime it turns into a real moneyspinner”, Saiful said.
The rare varieties of tomatoes are only cultivated in Kullapara and Roghunathpur villages.
“I have cultivated it on only 8 decimal of land at a cost of Tk 20,000. But within a week of first harvest I have made Tk 10,000. I am now expecting to make Tk 1 lakh more over the next two months,” Saiful said.
Tomato cultivation has also brought job opportunities for many day-labourers and van drivers in the area. During the harvest, which lasts for six months, every day around 100 labourers and 50 van pullers earn their living by working at the tomato fields.
Deputy Director (DD) Shafiul Alam of Agricultural Extension Department (AED) here said, in the current season only the farmers of Roghunathpur and Kullapara have cultivated these two varieties of tomatoes.
“It is heartening to know that the growers are getting good prices,” he added with a pleasing smile.
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