Hundreds of farmers are cultivating in the rising char areas of the Teesta River in Rajarhat, Kurigram, in anticipation of winter prospects.
Farmers say they have planted potatoes, onions, garlic, and sweet pumpkins in advance as they benefit from winter crops' bumper yield. This year, due to the muddy water coming from India in the floods, the sand of the Teesta River is deposited on the soil, which is likely to result in bumper yields in agriculture.
Farmer Aminul Islam said, "I do not have my own land. I have taken 06 acres of land on rent for 07 months and am planting potato seeds. The potato care is ongoing. When the potatoes are ripe, I will pick them and plant almonds. I am satisfied with the profit after paying Tk 65 thousand to the landowner and accounting for all the expenses."
When talking to farmer Shahida Begum, she said, "I have cultivated potatoes with a bank on one acre of land. I hope to get a good harvest this time. I have to use a silo machine to water the sand char, but Kamla Kishan is satisfied with the profit I get after leaving everything behind."
Abu Taher, the deputy assistant agricultural officer in charge of the char in Bidyananda Union, said, "The target for potato cultivation in this char has been set at 350 hectares of land. Along with potatoes, farmers are hoping to become self-sufficient by cultivating sweet pumpkins. However, they have not yet received statistics on onions and garlic.
A woman named Aleya Begum (40) has come to work in Teesta Char. She said, "If I work from 9 am to 4 pm, I get 200 taka. Men get 400 taka. It would be better if the wage was a little higher. I work regularly while planting potato seeds, so the family has reduced some poverty. If such work were done all year round, families like mine would be much better off."
Horse-drawn carriage driver Keramat Ali said, "Work is going on in full swing in Teesta Char. We are transporting various agricultural materials to the land. No other vehicles are allowed there. So the horse-drawn carriage is the only hope. My work has also increased. If I had such work regularly, my income would have been better."
Zaherul Haque, a teacher at Paikar Para Mahila Madrasa, said, "If the Teesta Master Plan is implemented, agricultural products from our northern region will be imported to different areas."
Rajarhat Upazila's Additional Agriculture Officer Haimanti Rani said, "Our farmers are busy planting potatoes, mustard, onions, garlic and sweet pumpkins. Meanwhile, many vegetables are also available in advance. Since farmers get good prices, they are getting excited to cultivate on a larger scale."
ZH
