Rangpur:The prospect of high yields and good profits is encouraging people in riverine areas to cultivate pumpkins on sandy riverbeds and char lands, providing them with an opportunity to change their fortunes.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the receding water levels in the rivers of the Rangpur agricultural region have exposed vast stretches of riverbeds and adjacent char lands. This has created an opportunity for residents in these areas to expand pumpkin cultivation during the winter crop season.
Farmers across the five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari, and Lalmonirhat are preparing the newly exposed sandy lands for sweet pumpkin cultivation in the Brahmaputra basin. Krishibid Md Saiful Islam, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for the Rangpur agricultural region, emphasized the importance of timely agricultural planning and technical support to maximize the use of these lands during the Rabi season.
In recent years, pumpkin cultivation has spread across approximately 10,800 hectares in the region, producing around 230,000 tonnes of pumpkins annually, valued at Taka 450 crore. The riverbanks and char areas offer opportunities for farming during the dry winter months when sandy soils and limited irrigation present challenges for other crops.
Krishibid Dr. Md Mamunur Rashid, a consultant for the Rupantar Project of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Bangladesh, noted that the receding river water levels have made sandy riverbeds and chars available for cultivation. The collaboration between government agencies and NGOs, along with the provision of quality seeds and agricultural extension services, is deemed crucial for the sustainable expansion of pumpkin cultivation.
Farmers like Nurash Chandra Roy from Char Taluk Shahbaz and others from nearby villages have shared their success stories, reporting significant profits from previous seasons and expressing optimism about expanding their pumpkin cultivation efforts this year.