Brahmanbaria: Brinjal farmer, Main Uddin, has achieved success by cultivating improved varieties of brinjal using the modern mulching method in Nabinagar upazila of the district, encouraging him to adopt more modern farming technologies.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Main Uddin, a resident of Bidyakut village under Bidyakut union of Nabinagar upazila, was previously engaged in salon work. His interest in agriculture, however, grew from childhood as he accompanied his father to the fields. After his father died about three years ago, Main Uddin took up farming as his profession to support his family. Since then, he has been cultivating different vegetables on a small scale, including bottle gourd, bitter gourd, beans, brinjal, and chilli.
This season, under the guidance of the Nabinagar Upazila Agriculture Office and the B-Strong project, he cultivated brinjal using improved-quality seeds and the modern mulching method for the first time. Encouraged by the good yield, he has become more interested in modern farming techniques. "I used to accompany my father to the fields from my childhood. That is how I developed an interest in agriculture," Main Uddin told BSS.
Main Uddin said, "Initially, I cultivated different vegetables. This year, following the advice of the agriculture office, I cultivated the Purple King variety of brinjal using the mulching method for the first time. I had never used this method before." He noted that after applying mulch, weeds have decreased and soil moisture has been retained better, resulting in well-grown plants and a good yield. Main Uddin is currently harvesting around 40 to 45 kilograms of brinjal every day and selling the produce at Taka 80 to Taka 100 per kilogram. On some days, when market prices remain high, he can sell the vegetable for as much as Taka 120 per kilogram.
"There is enough brinjal in the field to continue harvesting regularly for another two months," Main Uddin said. Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Safurullah told BSS that Main Uddin had achieved a good yield by cultivating brinjal using the mulching method for the first time. "We are regularly visiting his field and providing necessary advice. It is possible to increase farmers' production and income by using modern agricultural technologies," he said. Safurullah expressed optimism that Main Uddin would earn a profit of more than Taka 300,000 by the end of the season.
Nabinagar Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Jahangir Alam Liton told BSS that farmers are being encouraged to adopt modern farming technologies under the B-Strong project. "Main Uddin has achieved a good yield and received a good market price by cultivating brinjal through the mulching method. Inspired by his success, he is planning to cultivate brinjal on around four bighas of land using the same method in the current season," he said. Liton added that Main Uddin's success in choosing agriculture as his profession after leaving salon work is encouraging other farmers in the area to adopt modern technologies. "The agriculture department is regularly organizing demonstrations, training programmes and field days to expand the use of modern agricultural technologies," he said.