United News of Bangladesh

A quiet agricultural revolution is taking place in Narail, where farmers are turning to year-round polyshade tomato cultivation for higher yields and better profits. Things look to be very encouraging.  With support from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under the Climate Smart Agriculture and Water Management Project, farmers in Tularampur of Sadar upazila have planted the summer variety Bari-8 with remarkable success. Thanks to modern techniques and proper care, the yields have been impressive and profits are encouraging. Kamalpur farmer Kamrul Islam shared his story proudly.  “I cultivated tomatoes on 20 decimals of land after receiving training from the agriculture office. I spent about Tk 60,000, and I expect to make a profit of Tk 100,000 to Tk 150,000," he said.  Another farmer, Baharul Molya, said, “I usually grow other crops, but when tomato prices went up, I decided to try summer tomatoes this year. I got good yields and expect solid profits after expenses.” Tomato farmers in Chandpur struggle as prices plummet Farmer Rana Molya credited training from the agriculture office for helping him control diseases and boost production.  “There’s high demand in the local market. I sold tomatoes at Tk 80–90 per kilogram wholesale. With expenses around Tk 60,000, I expect to earn Tk 100,000 to Tk 160,000 in profit," he said.  Encouraged by these results, many other farmers are preparing to switch to tomato farming.  According to Rajib Biswas, a sub-assistant agriculture officer at Tularampur Union, summer tomatoes were grown on about 1.5 acres of land this year. “As market prices stay high, farmers’ interest in tomato farming is growing. We provide them with training, technical advice, and necessary inputs. Cultivating tomatoes on one acre costs roughly Tk 300,000, but farmers can earn Tk 250,000 to Tk 300,000 in net profit," Rajib said.  With growing demand and impressive returns, more farmers are expected to take up tomato cultivation in Narail next year.  The success of this venture is not only boosting incomes but also reshaping the rural economy—offering new hope and opportunity in the heart of Bangladesh’s farmland. Bumper tomato yields bring no joy to Sunamganj farmers

Tomato cultivation has changed the fate of many farmers in Bagerhat. Biswajit Baral, a farmer of Ashok Nagar village of Chitalmari upazila set an example in this area by cultivating tomatoes. He cultivated early varieties of the winter tomatoes and now he earns a lot from it. Seeing his success, many of the villagers started cultivating the vegetable. The tomatoes grown here go to different parts of the country including Dhaka, Chattogram, Chapainawabganj, Noakhali, Hatia and Barisal, reports our local correspondent. Visiting the field of Ashok Nagar village, it was seen that thousands of tomato plants were lined up on both sides of the fields. The plants are full of small to large green and red tomatoes. Men and women of different ages are picking tomatoes from the plants. This is the same scenario as far as the eye can see in the field. Besides, tomato cultivation has been seen in different villages of Chitalmari including Santoshpur, Umajuri, Charbaniari, Paschimpara, Garibpur, Kharamkhali. Different varieties of tomatoes named Haitom, Chakra, Major, Beautiful and Beautiful-2 are being cultivated in this area. READ: Tomato cultivation: Bumper harvest and good price bring joy to farmers in Rajshahi According to the Department of Agriculture, the seeds of these high yielding hybrids are from India, China and Thailand. Biswajit Baral, a 38-year-old millionaire who cultivates tomatoes, turned to agriculture after passing HSC from Vocational. He has revolutionized tomato cultivation. Besides, he is involved in growing seasonal agricultural products and  pisciculture 

Tomato growers of Godagari upazila in Rajshahi district have been blessed with a good harvest this year thanks to the favourable weather. The juicy vegetable has brought smiles for tomato growers as it is so far proving to be profitable as market price is satisfactory. Godagari upazila is famous for tomato cultivation and every season, tomatoes worth Tk several lakh are grown and traded in the upazila. Tomato cultivation has been going on in the upazila for the last two decades and farmers witness a bumper production of tomato every year. Many people of the upazila became self-reliant by cultivating tomatoes. This year, the local agriculture officer set a target of bringing 3,600 hectares of land under tomato cultivation in 2021-2022 Robi seasons with an expectation of producing 66,000 tonnes of tomatoes in the district, said M Abdul Auwal, deputy director of Rajshahi Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Already, 3,517 hectares of land have been brought under tomato cultivation in the district and of these, 2,960 hectares of land were brought under tomato cultivation in Godagari upazila, he said. Also read: Vegetable farming transforming lives of Brahmanbaria youths