In the Gobindapur area of Ambikapur union, Sadar upazila, Faridpur district, Lovely Akter and Imtiaz Mollah have transformed their fortunes and become a beacon of success in onion seed farming, locally referred to as “black gold”. Starting with just two bighas of land, the couple has expanded their cultivation to 40 bighas, witnessing substantial economic growth that allowed them to construct a multi-storey building and continually invest in new land. The duo, parents to a tenth grader and a fourth grader, embarked on this venture after observing the lucrative outcome of onion seed cultivation within their family post-marriage. After her marriage, she found that some family members among her in-laws were involved in onion seed cultivation and decided to join along with her husband in this endeavor. They earned good money in the first year and haven't looked back since, Lovely shared. Onion prices fall by Tk30 per kg as seasonal supply rises in market

In a world where healthy eating and sustainable farming practices are gaining prominence, microgreens emerge as a nutritional powerhouse and an excellent addition to any diet. These tiny greens not only pack a punch in terms of health benefits but also offer a cost-effective solution for farming enthusiasts. This article will delve into the world of microgreens, their origins, health advantages, nutritional components, and how one can cultivate them in our country. What are Microgreens? Microgreens are the young, edible seedlings of various vegetables and herbs, tracing their roots back to California in the 1980s. Far from accidental, their invention resulted from meticulous research aimed at maximising the nutritional value of plants in their early growth stages.  Harvested at around 1-3 inches tall, one week aged, these tiny greens offer an incredible concentration of flavour and nutrients. They often contain 40 times more nutrients than their mature counterparts, making them a popular choice for those seeking both taste and health benefits. Easy to cultivate at home, microgreens have become a trendy and versatile culinary delight. Read more: 10 Types of Natural Honey: A Guide to Varieties, Benefits, and Uses Nutritional Components of Microgreens: Superfood of the Future These seedlings are rich in a bunch of vitamins including Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Protein, Carbohydrates, Fibre, Sodium, Iron, Selenium, Magnesium, Manganese, etc. Due to the high nutritional value, microgreens are also referred to as "superfood". 

For the first time, a consignment of bean produced in Chattogram’s Sitakunda upazila has been exported to Italy, raising hope among farmers of the upazila which is already famous for vegetable production. Farmers and agriculture officials said Sitakunda upazila is known for production of variety of vegetables including beans. Beans are seen on vast lands on both sides of the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, on cropland, land alley, on both sides of the railway tracks, fallow land, embankments and even in hill slopes, they said. Read more: Prospects of Safe Broiler Chicken Farming The beans produced here are usually supplied to different parts of the country and this is the first time that this bean has been exported to Italy. Farmers said that although raw beans are sold in winter, dry bean seeds are sold throughout the year. Upazila Agriculture Officer said Md Habibullah said the soil of Sitakunda is suitable for bean cultivation and bean cultivation is more profitable than Boro paddy. “As a result, bean has been cultivated on 2,650 hectares of land in this upazila. This year, 47,000 metric tons of beans worth over Tk 100 crore will be produced.” Read more: Youth's success in orange farming sparks an agricultural trend in Kurigram

A young entrepreneur in Kurigram's Sadar upazila is reaping the benefits of orange farming, exemplifying self-reliance after completing his education. Abu Raihan Faruk, the enterprising youth, anticipates doubling his investment from selling a high-yield variety of oranges originating from China. Raihan, who finished his studies three years ago, chose entrepreneurship over job hunting. He started to cultivate various local and foreign fruits like mango, orange and grapes on his six-acre farm two and a half years ago. Recognizing the high demand for oranges in the local market, he focused on expanding his orange cultivation. Successful malta cultivation raises hope among farmers in Thakurgaon’s Ranishankail Starting with a single plant of the Chinese orange variety acquired from Bogura district, Raihan successfully grew 100 orange trees through graft cutting in just one and a half years. Encouraged by this success, he invested in commercial cultivation by dedicating two bigha of land to orange farming with an investment of Tk 20,000. Raihan found orange farming relatively hassle-free, requiring only compost fertilizer, pesticides, and anti-fungus spray for a healthy yield. He confidently expects to double his profits this year. He anticipates selling 15-20 maunds of oranges. The potential revenue from his orange harvest is estimated at Tk 80,000. Raihan also highlights the significant demand for oranges in Bangladesh, which currently relies on imports. He believes that local commercial cultivation could meet domestic needs and eventually lead to exporting oranges. Mohammad Kabir Hossain, a visitor to Raihan's orchard, is inspired by Raihan's success and plans to venture into orange farming himself. Biplab Kumar Mohonto, the deputy director of Kurigram's Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), acknowledged the novelty of orange cultivation in the district and offered support to Raihan. Returnee-migrant bets future on Malta farming in Rajshahi Raihan's journey illustrates how innovative agricultural practices can transform the livelihoods of young entrepreneurs and potentially reshape the agricultural landscape of districts like Kurigram.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (February 12, 2023) reiterated that the country will never look back again and it will move forward to become a developed, prosperous, and smart Bangladesh. “Insha Allah, this country will never look back again. Bangladesh is advancing and will advance more… it will be ‘Smart Bangladesh’. We will have the ‘Sonar Bangla’,” she said. The prime minister said this while addressing the 43rd National Assembly-2023 of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP as the chief guest at the Ansar and VDP Academy in Gazipur’s Shafipur. Read more: Allow more women to excel in science: PM to int’l community She said that the country was liberated with the supreme sacrifice of blood during the Liberation War. “Today Bangladesh got the recognition of a developing country, and we want to advance further. We want to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country, alongside ensuring socioeconomic progress,” she said. People in the country will not beg to anyone, she said. Read More: Encourage people to pay tax instead of harassment: PM Hasina asks revenue collectors Sheikh Hasina said that the coronavirus pandemic created immense pressure on the economy at the international level, while Russia-Ukraine war caused global recession, not just in Bangladesh. “I urge everyone to follow the footsteps of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman… do not keep a single inch of arable land unutilized,” she said. “For that Ansar and VDP can play a special role. They can help people in the villages and engage them in various cultivation activities to produce crops and preserve those. I hope that you will contribute,” the PM added. Read More: Off duty OCs clash with Ansar over parking at amusement park Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Public Security Division Senior Secretary Md Aminul Islam Khan, and Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque welcomed the prime minister when she arrived at the venue. The PM handed over medals to 180 Ansar and VDP members for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields. She also inspected the parade and witnessed a smartly-turned out contingent of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP. Later, she witnessed choreography and a cultural programme. Read More: Shotguns, bullets snatched from Ansar members recovered; 10 held.

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque has sent demi official (DO) letters to some other ministers to cultivate unused lands of sugar, jute, textile mills and railways to mitigate any possible food crisis. The minister sent the letter to the ministers for Industries, Textiles and Jute and Railways recently, according to a press release. In the letters, Abdur Razzaque requested all seeking personal initiative of the ministers mentioning the opportunity of cultivating food grains, vegetables, pulse and, oil seeds in unused lands owned by different government agencies to fight the food crisis in light of global adversities. He said the initiative can boost the country’s food production and concerned upazila Agricultural Officers of the Agricultural Extension Department will provide necessary assistance in this regard. Read more: Global food import costs near record $2 trillion, hurting poorest The letters said global food production and distribution are facing a challenge due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Covid-19. Along with that price hike of essential materials for food production like fertilizers and fuel have created a fear of food crisis, it said. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to increase the food production and to leave no fallow lands unused to ensure food security, which the Ministry of Agriculture is trying to implement, said Razzaque.

Kamrul Hasan, a farmer from Bagerhat, has found massive success in recent years in cultivating foreign fruits. After racking up revenues of Tk 2.7 million annually selling the yield from his 21-bigha orchard, Kamrul is now thinking of expanding his business by exporting the fruits abroad. Visiting Kamrul’s orchard in Shiyalkathi village under Bagerhat’s Kochua upazila, UNB found the place filled with numerous varieties of local and foreign fruits, including Dragon Fruit, Malta Fruit, Mango, Guava, Lime, Orange, Pineapple, Wood Apple, Sugar Apple, Custard Apple etc. Inspired by Kamrul’s work, many people from the area are joining the fruit farming business. Customers are also coming to the orchard on a regular basis to buy fruits directly from the grower. Read: Drought hampering Aman production in Bagerhat Even the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has dubbed Kamrul a "successful fruit farmer".

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Friday said that the government is working to introduce the mangoes of the Barind region Sapahar to the global market. “Sapahar in the Barind region, which was once out of cultivation, is now cultivating a lot of mangoes. The large mango market is here now,” he said. Also read: Strict action if anyone tries to destabilise rice market: Food Minister The minister made this remark at a workshop on safe production, collection, packing, transportation and marketing of mangoes at Sapahar Upazila Parishad auditorium, said a PID handout here. “The delicious mangoes of this region need to be branded,” he added. Mango growers are being made aware about safe production, marketing and conservation, so that they can deliver safe mangoes to the consumers, said the minister. Also read:Rice cannot be packaged for sale after buying those from open market: Minister “Our aim is to build a healthy, beautiful and talented nation. To that end, the government has enacted the Safe Food Act,” he added, urging consumers to be aware of food safety.

Piranha, a banned fish in many countries including Bangladesh, is being widely sold in different areas of Chandpur. It was learned that the prohibited piranha cultivation was increasing day by day in the fish-paddy farming projects and in local ponds in Faridganj upazila. Many complained that no action was being taken by the administration, in this regard. The fish is being widely sold in Faridganj Sadar Bazar Fish Market, Bhatialpur Chowrasta Fish Market, Gallak Bazar Fish Market and other small fish markets as well. READ: Five jailed for selling piranha at Kawran Bazar Buying it from wholesalers, the retailers were selling the banned fish both in local markets and from door to door in remote areas. Rahim, who sells fish door to door said that the price of piranha was Tk 100 -150 per kg. It tastes like the local brigade fish he says to the customers while selling it. According to doctors, piranhas are so deadly to human health that in many countries there is a provision of jail and fine against those who cultivate and market this fish. Piranha fish farming and marketing is a crime in Bangladesh too. In this regard, Upazila Fisheries Officer Mst. Farhana Akhter Ruma told UNB correspondent that it is illegal to cultivate and sell piranha. Action would be taken in consultation with UNO after the lockdown. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shiuli Hari said, the piranha fish has been banned by law as it is harmful to the human body. She also said that she would ask the Upazila Fisheries Officer to take immediate action in this regard. READ: Weird ‘living fossil’ fish lives 100 years, pregnant for 5 Piranha originated in the Amazon region of South America. Highly aggressive with sharp teeth, this fish is a threat to other fish and can harm humans as well as the aquatic environment. They are also capable of killing people instantly by attacking in schools.

The moment Abu Taleb tasted the dragon fruit for the first time in his life two years ago he knew he got stuck to it forever. On a sunny day in 2019 his farm in Faridpur treated a visiting foreign team with the pink coloured fruit with juicy flesh and black seeds inside. He and his colleagues had them too. Read: Engineering graduate now a successful dragon fruit farmer That was the day a highly impressed Taleb decided to move to his village at Kamalabari Battala area of Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila determined to go for commercial cultivation of the fruit, that grows from cactus-like plants. Two years down the line the 38-year-old man has developed a dragon fruit garden on three bighas of land from where he hopes to sell fruits worth up to Tk. 10 lakh.   Taleb, head of a 12-member famly, with an average monthly income of Tk. 1 lakh, has so far earned Tk. 4 lakh from dragon fruit and its saplings. Read Alt. Farming: How women in Kurigram augment their households' incomes His start was not as easy as he thought. He had to take several sessions with at local agricultural extension department to learn more about the method of the fruit’s cultivation. He also got useful instructions from farmers who cultivated the fruit in other districts.