Md. Kamruzzaman Khan Picklu from Chitalmari, Bagerhat:
After going through various ups and downs of natural calamities, the farmers of Chitalmari have achieved great success in early tomato cultivation.
Tackling adverse weather, they have grown bumper yields in tomato cultivation. And as a result of this bumper crop, about fifteen thousand farmers of the upazila are dreaming of a change of fortune.
Their tomatoes are now being transported by truck to different parts of the country. Farmers hope that their dreams will come true if they get a fair price and more wholesalers come from outside.
According to the Chitalmari Upazila Agriculture Office, a total of 1,525 acres of land in the upazila has been planted with different varieties of tomatoes this year. Due to early rains, many tomato growers had to plant seedlings 2-3 times. Despite adverse situations, they have achieved success at last.
Already wholesale traders from different districts of the country including Dhaka, Chattogram and Shariatpur have started coming to the tomato market of this upazila.
From here, on an average of 20-30 trucks of tomatoes have started going to different parts of the country every day. In the beginning, tomatoes were sold at Tk. 2,800 to Tk 3,000 per maund. Though the price is falling now.
They are hopeful that the farmers will benefit as expected if the prices are maintained.
In this regard, Chitalmari Upazila Agriculture Officer Rituraj Sarkar said, the farmers of this upazila have achieved success in tomato cultivation this year. He said this time the bumper crop of tomatoes has been harvested. It is hoped that the farmers will benefit as expected.
