Cumilla:Samesshpur village in Cumilla's Burichang upazila has become a significant hub for vegetable seedling production, with its products being distributed to farmers nationwide. This seedling trade, valued at approximately Tk 7 crore annually, has transformed the local economy and created employment opportunities for thousands.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the village's fertile sandy loam soil in the Gomti River basin, combined with decades of farming expertise, has contributed to its success. Currently, more than 500 farmers are involved in seedling production over 20 hectares, generating direct and indirect employment for around 5,000 individuals, including farmers, laborers, and those in related sectors.
The village's seedling production includes at least 23 varieties of vegetables, such as cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, and chilli, which are supplied to various districts, including Chattogram, Dhaka, and Sylhet. This activity has expanded beyond Samesshpur to other areas, including Daklapara, Kalakachua, and Kabila.
Despite its achievements, the industry faces challenges like waterlogging during rainfall, which threatens seedling production. Local growers have proposed the excavation of a two-kilometre canal to improve drainage and mitigate this issue. Efforts to address this include technical support from the local agriculture office and potential initiatives from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation to construct the canal.
Cumilla's reputation for quality seedlings has been longstanding, with farmers like Md Jahangir Alam, who has been in the business for over four decades, playing a significant role in maintaining the area's status as a reliable source for planting materials.