BDRunner Online:
June 28:- Local farmers have achieved great success in cultivating bitter gourd (Bitter Gourd) in Mirpur Upazila of the district. As the production of bitter gourd has increased significantly in the current season, the demand in the local market has increased, and farmers are also getting good prices.
In the last three years, bitter gourd cultivation has increased by about 40 percent in Amla, Chhatiandanga, Talbaria and Poradah unions of Mirpur Upazila of the district. Due to the high land, organic fertilizers and natural irrigation facilities of canals and bilges in this region, farmers are turning to bitter gourd (Bitter Gourd) cultivation.
Milon Hossain, a once needy farmer of Amla Union of Mirpur Upazila, is now known locally as a successful vegetable farmer. Even five years ago, Milon was a farmer dependent on paddy. Due to repeated losses, the burden of debt was weighing on his shoulders. Despite getting frustrated, he did not give up farming. After attending a training from the Agriculture Office in 2021, he became interested in bitter gourd cultivation.
Farmer Milon said that in the cultivation of bitter gourd, two to three crops are produced per year, and the income is more than lakhs of taka. In this season of 2025 season, farmer Milon cultivated bitter gourd on about 2 bighas of land. He said that this time his production cost has stood at about 45 thousand taka, and the income will be about 150 thousand taka. Every day, his vegetables are being sold in the local market through wholesalers.
Agriculturists said that bitter gourd is a summer crop, which can withstand high temperatures and little water. As the soil and climate of Mirpur upazila are quite suitable for this vegetable, the production is yielding good results.
Local farmers said that vegetables from Mirpur, including bitter gourd, are also supplied to the markets of Kushtia city, Jhenaidah, Rajbari and Dhaka. The price of bitter gourd per kg is 25-30 taka in the wholesale market and 40-50 taka in retail. Bitter gourd is more popular in the city market due to its health benefits.
According to sources from the Department of Agricultural Extension, there are plans to cultivate bitter gourd on at least 200 hectares of land in Mirpur upazila of the district next season. In addition, the establishment of an agricultural product storage and processing center is being considered.
Mirpur Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Abdullah Al Mamun said that there is a lot of potential for bitter gourd cultivation in Mirpur. We are training farmers on modern farming methods and pesticide management.
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