Kushtia:Two farmers in Kumarkhali upazila have successfully harvested a good yield of pesticide-free bitter gourd using Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for the first time in the area. However, they are struggling with low market prices that do not compensate for their higher cultivation costs.
According to United News of Bangladesh, farmers Dabir Uddin Farazi and Abdul Bari cultivated the Alisa variety of bitter gourd using GAP on their three-bigha field in Dhalnagar village. This eco-friendly farming approach aims to produce safe, quality food while minimizing chemical pesticide use. Over the past 10 days, they have sold approximately 2,200 kg of bitter gourd at wholesale prices between Tk 30 and Tk 55 per kg, earning around Tk 65,000-70,000.
The farmers expect to sell an additional 4,000 kg or more in the coming month and a half, provided weather conditions remain favorable. They anticipate the market value to exceed Tk 250,000. Despite this, the lack of a separate market for pesticide-free vegetables means they receive no premium for their produce.
Farmer Dabir Uddin explained that GAP cultivation incurs higher costs due to the need for nets, traps, and organic fertilizers. He noted that while the yield and quality of vegetables are good, consumers are not willing to pay more for pesticide-free options. Last year, bitter gourd sold for Tk 70-80 per kg, but current prices have dropped to Tk 35-55 per kg, affecting their profit margins.
Abdul Bari echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for a dedicated market section for pesticide-free vegetables to help farmers achieve fair pricing. He also mentioned that both pesticide-free and conventionally grown vegetables are sold at similar prices in the market.
Other farmers in the area are also exploring modern and mulching methods for bitter gourd cultivation. Farmer Ujjal Chowdhury expanded his cultivation area after seeing promising returns last year, while Mohan Sheikh aims to adopt pesticide-free methods alongside mulching if agricultural incentives are provided.
The Kumarkhali Upazila Agriculture Office reports that bitter gourd has been cultivated on approximately 52 hectares in the upazila this year, with an expected production of around 500 tonnes valued at over Tk 15 million. The office is advocating for separate market corners for pesticide-free vegetables to encourage more farmers to adopt GAP and ensure fair pricing.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Monir Hossain stated that the department is providing GAP training to farmers and plans to propose establishing dedicated market sections for pesticide-free produce. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farzana Akhter added that such initiatives could increase consumer awareness and motivate farmers to produce safer vegetables.