Integrated farming brings cheers to farmers of Bangladesh

Integrated farming has brought cheers to farmers in Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. The farmers in the district have started cultivating vegetables in fish gardens and ponds following the advice of the agriculture department.

Saidur Rahman Rubel Molla, chairman of Charkajal UP, said: “Integrated farming will help farmers bring more profit.”

“I started integrated farming after being trained by officials of the local agricultural department. 

The training has improved my knowledge about seeds,” he added.

Currently, Rubel Molla has built his farm on 33 acres. His farm has 2,000 bean trees, 2,200 bottle gourd trees, 3,000 pumpkins, 3,000 chichinga trees, 1,200 balsam apple trees, 1,500 green cucumber trees, 1,800 cucumber trees and 2,000 asparagus bean trees.

Besides, green pepper is cultivated on 40 per cent of the land, brinjal is produced on 30 per cent of the land, and 20 per cent of land is allocated for coriander cultivation.

Fifty short-variety coconut seedlings and Amropoli mango seedlings have been planted on the banks of a pond.

Farm manager Ibrahim said: “I have 20 labourers in the farm. I sell milk, fish and vegetables in the local markets and make a profit of Tk. 25000 to 30,000 after paying workers’ wages, cost of fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and other expenses."

Saidur Rahman Rubel Mollah said he had cultivated different species of fish in eight ponds and three enclosures in 2008. Earlier, the ponds and the enclosures were left abandoned.

He began cultivating vegetables following the advice of the agriculture department in 2015.

Saidur Rahman,  deputy assistant agriculture officer of Char Kajal union, said: “Earlier, it was only a fish farm.

We asked him to cultivate vegetables with help from the agriculture department. The success of Rubel Molla has inspired local youths, who  have also started integrated farming.”

Upazila agriculture officer Abdul Mannan said: “We have trained the farmers and provided necessary assistance. They are now supplying vegetables to the local markets.”