Garidah union model for toxic free vegetable cultivation in Sherpur

Sherpur (Bogura) Correspondent :
Farmers have been benefiting by producing poison-free vegetables in Garidah Model union under Sherpur upazila of Bogura. Once the farmers of this area have used excessive chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourd, sweet pumpkin and beans, now they have been growing these vegetables without any chemical fertilizers and pesticides so that grower can easily buy poison-free vegetables from the market & safe vegetable corners have also been set up in Chota Phulbari Bazar of the locality.
According to Sherpur Upazila Agriculture Extension Directorate, the IPM model union has been implemented at Garidah Union under Safe Crop Production Project (1st Revised) through integrated pest management (IPM) system. Farmers of this area have been successful in vegetable cultivation using eco-friendly organic fertilizers.They have been getting more crops less cost as there is less disease and insect attack.Farmers have been also getting fair price in the market as the vegetables are poison-free. Besides, a safe vegetable corner has been set up at Chhota Phulbari bazar belonging to Garidah Model Union. Some 20 vans have been distributed free of cost to 20 farmer groups to transport vegetables to safe vegetable corners in this regard. Cauliflower,cabbage, brinjal, bitter gourd, sweet pumpkin and beans have been being cultivated in 100 acres of land.
Environmentally friendly organic fertilizers have been being used instead of chemical fertilizers in these vegetable fields under the project. Sex pheromone traps, yellow sticky traps, mulching paper, net houses, biopesticides, ecomakes, bioshield, bioenvir etc. have been being used instead of chemical pesticides to control harmful insects.
Farmers have been given free seeds, organic fertilizers, organic pesticides, sex pheromone traps and yellow sticky traps and cash for safe vegetable production. Farmers have also been given hands-on training on these using methods.
The art of trapping has been being taught. Due to less disease and insect attack on the land, the cost is much lower. Even the yield has been very high.Farmers have been happy to produce these vegetables at cheaper cost. Cauliflower farmer Badsha Mia of Mahipur village of Garidah union said, “I have grown cauliflower in a safe way on the land. I have not sprayed any chemical fertilizers or pesticides there, the yield has also been very good.” “Vegetables crop production will be increased in a safe way in the future.” he added.
Abdul Khalek, a sweet pumpkin grower of the same village, said, “I have cultivated sweet pumpkin using mulching method, the weeds are much less than other times and the trees are very beautiful.” “Good yield will be increased in these methods.he added.