Problems and prospects of quality vegetable seeds
In the context of massive losses in traditional paddy cultivation in consecutive years, farmers in northern districts adopting with new crops pattern as inclining more and more to vegetable farming which is proved to be profitable.
According to the estimation by dept. of agriculture extention (DAE) in Nilphamari around 10 thousand hectors of land have been brought under vegetable cultivation both winter and dry season vegetables which is almost double comparing few couple of years.
On investigation, it is found that a number of big farmers in own land as well as a lot of unemployed youths taking lease of land from landowners have made green vegetable revolution in villages changing their fortunes and socio economic scenario.
Every day, hundreds of loaded vegetable trucks proceed to capital or other big cities as the traders of those places coming to farmers' doorsteps for collecting vegetables.
Even many of the farmers with their own innovation, cultivating mixed crops in same land at the same time and gaining fast.
Aminur Rahman (30), a youth of Balapara village in Sangalshi union of sador upazila cultivated four vegetables in same land in this dry season and got tremendous benefit.
He said that first he showed seeds of cucumber in rows and when they become high enough to reach the bamboo made junglas (bangla word), he then transplanted karola (bitter gourd) in the space between the cucumber plants.
Cucumber plants start yield within 35 days and collecting the highest harvest for few turns, he removes them and allows korolas to use the same junglas. He follows the same process for other two other crops like Jhingga (ribbed gourd) and Borboti (string bean).
SM Idris Ali, deputy director of Nilphamari DAE said that as per their estimation, in absence of pragmatic marketing policy, farmers are incuring loss of Tk 200-Tk 250 in a maund (37.5 kg) of paddy whereas innovative young and educative farmers like Aminur getting at least Tk 40-50 thousand in a bigah by cultivating hi-breed vegetables in mixed cropping pattern while producing cost is only Tk 20 thousand.
“We encourage farmers to follow mixed cropping pattern as it is our policy to encourage farmers towards crops diversification after ensuring our food security, the DD added.
District agriculture training officer Aftabuddin Ahmed said that govt. sponsored BADC doesn't produce vegetable seeds on which farmers rely most but in its absence we suggest farmers to use hi breed variety vegetables seeds of brand companies like Lal Teer, ACI, Ispahani, Supreme seeds, Metal seeds, AR Malik, Byers, Raihan seeds and few others.
Farmers alleged that they are facing the problem of adulterated seeds as there are only 120-150 genuine seed dealers in the district who have shops mainly in district or upazila towns having genuine license from the nation seed board and they can't cover entire area.
Taking this opportunity, more than 500 floating and unauthorized traders spreading sacks on earth in different rural markets sale low quality loose seeds which have only 10%-15% germination capacity and give low yield as produced and processed in unscientific way.
Poor and unconscious farmers are the buyers of those seeds as are cheap. For example a packet of 10-gm. seeds of gourd of a brand company has price of Tk 70—80, whereas loose seeds low in quality of that kind is sold at Tk 10-12 only.
Even a forged seed syndicate supply adulterated seeds of various reputed companies in same packets like the original companies and sale them lower that the price original companies luring farmers to use those seeds.
When farmers don't get his desired germination, complained to the floating trader, they (fake traders) blame the brand companies for this misfortune. Even a scuffle triggered at Nilphamari Sakhamacha bazaar between trader and buyer few days ago as his costly cucumber seeds brought disaster, reported locals.
Atiqur Rahmam a vegetable farmer of Angarpara village alleged that he brought a 1 kg packet of ladis finger seeds (bangla Dheros) of a reputed company from a seed shop in pakerhaat market but 70% seeds did not sprout. As he complained, I did not get remedy as the trader blamed me that there was lot of moisture in my land though I am experienced.
Authority should come forward to combat such malpractice but no such step is visible till now regarding vegetable seeds, said many farmers.
District seed certification officer Abu Ala Moudidi said that they certify only five kind of crops seeds like paddy, wheat, potato, sugarcane and jute and verifying of vegetable seeds is out of their jurisdiction.
He however said that if anybody complaind we collected sample and send it to laboratory in Rangpur and if found to be adulterated, we filed case.
But he could not remember whether any such case was filed yet and reported that they have manpower shortage, he added.
Many farmers and seed traders opined that about 50% farmers still do not use high yielding vegetable seeds of brand companies as those are very costly and use own traditionally produced seeds preserved in bottles to cultivate in their house yard.
The price of quality seeds should be minimized by using simple packets as presently used packets are costly and increase seeds price, they told further.
The writer is Nilphamari Correspondent
The Daily Star