Pointed gourd (Potal) is a staple summer vegetable. Potal is not cultivated in all districts of Bangladesh. Out of this, Potal is cultivated in Greater Rangpur, Rajshahi, Bogura, Pabna, Kushtia, Jashore, Faridpur, and Khulna districts. In Kurigram this year the bumper yield of Potal in the current season done. Farmers are very happy to get good prices. Traders are taking raw materials to different districts due to more import of potal in the market. According to the information of the Kurigram Agriculture Department, harvesting of potal fields starts during the Chaitra and Boishakh months. 405 hectares of land in Kurigram this season due to favorable weather conditions, Potal has been cultivated and the farmers are also getting good prices.
Potal is now retailing at Tk 35 to 40 per kg in the market. Along with Potal, various varieties of seasonal vegetables have also grown well in the district. Yesterday at 11:30 a.m. on the surface of Kurigram old town,going to the market, it can be seen that the market is full of potal. Farmers are supplying directly from the farm to the wholesale market. That potal is selling from different districts to the traders (wholesalers). Zainal Miah, a potal farmer of Ghogadah Union in Kurigram Sadar, said, this time
I planted potal in my three bigha land. By the grace of Allah, there has been a very good harvest. I also got a good price in the market. I sold patal at Tk1200 per maund in the morning. I hope this time there will be good profit in potal cultivation. Enamul, trader of the municipal market, said, wholesalers from different districts come to buy potal from my place every day. In the morning I sold potal wholesale for Tk30 taka per kg. Later, as the day progressed, as the import was high, it had to be sold at the rate of Tk27. Agriculture Extension Department, Khamarbari Kurigram Deputy Director Abdullah Al Mamun said, this year, in the current season, 405 hectares of land in Kurigram district are covered with potal.
Cultivated last year was 390 hectares. This time it is 15 hectares more than last year. Farmers are very happy with good yields and prices. I expect more growth in future.
ZH
