SM Sahidul Islam, Satkhira

Cultivation of Barri-innovated summer hybrid tomato has increased in Satkhira. Summer tomato cultivation has increased on 25 hectares of land this year compared to last year.

This variety of tomato was cultivated in 70 hectares of land in the district last year. This year 95 hectares of land has been cultivated. Due to the demand in the market, the cultivation of the vegetable is increasing every year in different areas of the district.

However, farmers claim that they are suffering due to the increase in the price of diesel, fertilizers and pesticides. At the same time, they urged the government not to import tomatoes from India during the peak season.
Meanwhile, the district agriculture department has informed the farmers to continue all kinds of cooperation in tomato cultivation.

According to the sources of Satkhira District Agricultural Extension Department, the soil and climate of Satkhira district is very suitable for summer tomato cultivation. Farmers are turning to tomato cultivation as it is highly profitable in short run. At present, farmers are cultivating Bari-8, Bari-10 and Bari-11 high-yielding summer tomatoes in the district.

It has been found that some farmers started cultivating summer hybrid tomatoes on a small scale 8 years ago in Batra village of Kalaroa upazila of the district. They are getting good yield of tomatoes from the first year. At present, 150 farmers have cultivated this tomato in about 500 bigha of land. Farmers have become self-sufficient, 1500 workers have been employed.

Like Batra village, many areas of Satkhira Sadar and Tala upazilas are now cultivating summer tomatoes.

Mohammad Raihan, Tariqul Islam and Abdul Alim, tomato farmers of Batra village, said that the farmer spends about one to one and a half lakh taka to grow tomatoes on one bigha of land. If the yield is good, one bigha of tomatoes is sold for two and a half to three lakh taka. However, the farmers are suffering financially due to the increase in the prices of diesel, fertilizers and pesticides.

They also said that import from India should be stopped during peak season to ensure fair price of tomatoes. At the same time, they also demanded to start cold storage.

Dr. Mohammad Jamal Uddin, deputy director of Satkhira Agricultural Extension Department, said that farmers are becoming interested in summer tomato cultivation as it is very profitable in a short time. Last year, farmers cultivated the vegetable on 70 hectares of land in Satkhira district. This year cultivation has been done in 95 hectares of land.

Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Md Sayedul Islam said that the soil and climate of Satkhira is very suitable for tomato cultivation. in short time
Farmers are increasingly interested in tomato cultivation as it is a highly profitable vegetable. In future, initiatives will be taken to set up a marketing center in Batra village.

Besides, arrangements will soon be made for the construction of multi-chamber cold storage, where tomatoes can be stored as well as various vegetables and potatoes.