Bumper crop of tomatoes in Rajbari brings prosperity to farmers

DOT Desk: Cultivating high quality tomatoes—using advanced techniques on the land near the Padma River—in Rajbari, has allowed local farmers to prosper.
Free of preservatives, Rajbari’s tomatoes are supplied to Dhaka and different districts; after fulfilling local demand, reports Dhaka Tribune.
According to the Rajbari Agricultural Expansion office, this year, 834 hectares of farmlands in five upazilas have been used for tomato cultivation; 10 hectares more than last year’s.
Among them, 375 hectares of farmland are in Sadar upazila, 300 hectares in Goalanda, 85 hectares in Pangsha, 38 hectares in Kalukhali, and 37 hectares in Baliakandi upazila. Every bigha of these lands produces more than 2.5 tons of tomatoes.
Of the 300 hectares of land in the Borat, Mizanpur, and Khanganj unions under Rajbari Sadar upazila, 150 hectares of land have been used for farming. On 120 of those hectares, high- yielding tomatoes are being cultivated.
Farmer Habibur Rahman from Borat union said: “This year, the cultivation of high quality and yielding breeds of tomatoes—such as Bipul plus, Bipul, Hightom, Sofol, Ananya, and others—have yielded good returns.
“These tomatoes have a good market demand, with every kilogram sold at Tk20-25,” he said. “Every week, 20-25 maunds of tomatoes are sold at different markets across the country.”
Iqbal Sarder from Kawzani village in Debgram union under Goalanda upazila said: “There has been a bumper crop of tomatoes this year. We, farmers, are happy with the prices at which we are selling these tomatoes.”
Meanwhile, Abdur Rashid Sheikh from Borat upazila said: “The silt soil on the land near the Padma River is extremely fertile this year. With the cultivation of high quality tomato breeds, each hectare land has produced 600 maunds of tomatoes.”
He added: “If farmers get a good market price, then their ventures will turn out to be profitable, making up for the damage suffered during the flood seasons.”
Rashid also thanked Rajbari Sadar Agricultural office for providing guidance to the farmers regarding cultivation. “The production has increased from last year,” he said.
Additional Deputy Director (crops) of Rajbari Agricultural Expansion headquarters Dr Md Mosharraf Hossain said: “We provided the farmers advice about: eradicating pests with the use of sex pheromones, high quality tomato breeds, organic fertilizers, and pesticides. This helped them achieve success and improve their livelihoods.”