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Fruits make farming profitable
Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu
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Photo: Star |
68 years old farmer Golam Mostafa of village Ramanandapur in Pabna Sadar upazila was originally a landless farmer 50 years ago but now he is the owner of few bighas of land. He devoted his entire life in cultivation and observed the gradual development of agriculture sector since last five decades.
The agriculture sector hurriedly developed in last three decades after introducing Irri-Borro cultivation and by setting up irrigation pumps since last three decades. Mostafa talked with The Daily Star about the gradual development of agriculture sector of the country from his long experience.
“I started to cultivate by taking lease of one bigha land in 60's when I was a young farmer. My brother and I cultivated land as workers and produced poor amount of paddy. The production of paddy was too low for the need.” Mostafa said.
About the cultivation system of Pakistan era Mostafa said that there was no irrigation facility during that time. Farmers used to wait for the rain water for irrigation. Due to the lack of irrigation facility farmers cultivated Aush-Aman paddy, he said. There was no other variety during that time, he said.
“Aush-Aman paddy was the main crop in 60's. 'IRRI', is a very new invention which became popular in 80's in our country. 40 to 50 years ago when we cultivated Aush-Aman, we used to produce 3 to 5 maunds of paddy from each Bigha. There was no other high yielding variety of crop. So the farmers worked hard in their fields but there was no change of life.” Mostafa said.
Taking lease on condition of giving 3 maunds of paddy to the land owner we often did not recover the cost of labour by cultivating paddy. There was no other alternative to me so I had paid my attention in cultivation from the begining of my farming.
“In many days I along with my family members took Fan (rice brew), as meal though I had cultivated paddy for others. We faced hardship in my early life.” He said.
After independence we had faced hardship again but in few years the changes began in agriculture sector. In 1978 a deep tub-well was set up in our village that dramatically changed agriculture. We have started the IRRI-BORRO paddy cultivation in 1978 to 1980.
Though the farmers were not interested to cultivate the new variety of paddy during that time but I had taken the risk and cultivated Irri in three or four bighas of land. In 80's I had used fertilizer and insecticides in my field and got remarkable success.
After giving paddy to the land owners, giving paddy as the irrigation pump charge and other charges I took 12 maunds of paddy from one bigha during that time. It was a dream of my life. Being inspired I have cultivate more lands. I also started to buy lands in my village from the very early of 80s, he said.
In 80's each Bigha of land was sold at Tk. 2 thousand only. Giving hard labour in my field I bought 8 bigha cultivated lands in my village. From 80 to 90 I bought this land. But the value of cultivated lands increased gradually from 80 to 90.
After that the value of lands increased so quickly that it went beyond to our capacity. Now each Bigha cultivated land is being sold of Tk. 10 lakh to 20 lakh though it was Just 30 to 40 thousand in 10/15 years ago, Mostafa said.
Now I am the owner of 8 bigha land. I have cultivated 12 bigha this year taking four bighas on lease. I am expecting to get bumper production this year.
Comparing with the early period Mostafa said that now we get Tk. 5 to 7 thousand profit from each bigha which was beyond imagination years ago.
“Now we get 18 to 20 mounds of paddy from each bigha. At least Tk. 5 to 6 thousand is needed to produce this amount of crop. According to the present market price I am hopeful to get Tk. 6 to 8 thousand in profit from each bigha.” Mostafa said.
Mostafa feel happy with the gradual development of agriculture sector but urged the government to control the price hike of fertilizer, insecticides and others to produce expected crop.
“Farmers often face hardship due to soaring price of agriculture related materials. The price of TSP, Potash and other fertilizers (except UREA) and the insecticides are soaring up every year. In most of the time we can not ensure the proper irrigation to our field due to poor electricity supply. If these obstacles are removed the farmers would be able to produce more crops.” Mopstafa said.
Pointing out the gradual development of agriculture Mostafa said that Irri cultivation with the help of modern irrigating system has made the remarkable change in the agriculture sector and the fate of the farmers. But now the farmers are not only dependent on paddy cultivation. Multiple crops changed the farmers so quickly.
“Farmers are now cultivating Lichee, plumb, mango and such other hybrid fruits besides paddy. These fruits made farmers more solvent.” Mostafa said.
The elderly farmer Golam Mostafa urged the government to pay attention to the farmers to bring more change in agriculture sector.
The writer is Pabna Correspondent of The Daily Star.