Bumper Bitter gourd cultivation in Sreemangal

Md. Mosabbir Ali, back from Sreemangal :
Farmers have been cultivating gourds simultaneously for the past few decades. Every year the bumper crop has produced and now the village is named Korolar village. Others called it as vegetable village.
The original name of the village is Parer Tong in Ashidron Union of Srimangal Upazila of Moulvibazar District. After entering the village, you can see Korola Machang. Corollas are hanging below this canopy surrounded by green leaves.
Srimangal Assistant Agriculture Officer Masuk Miah said that most of the farmers have grown Lalti seed tia and tia super varieties of corolla over about hundred acres of this village. Just as the farmers have become independent by cultivating corolla, the local men and women are benefiting by working to eat corolla as daily wages.
Village gourd farmer Md. Nasu Mia said that he brought gourd seeds of Tia variety of red arrow seed and cultivated it commercially in Tong village of the first bank. After seeing his bumper yield, many people started planting gourds.
Now every house in the village is a gourd farmer. He said, “Many people in the village are now cultivating gourds.” I like to see that they are self-sustaining. I still help when someone comes to me for advice.”
Amena Begum, the housewife of the village, said, I don’t have my own land. I earn 300-400 taka daily by working for others. Parer Tong collection point market opened in Parer Tong area for sale of these gourds and other vegetables.
Where many wholesalers visit every day to buy gourds. Md Hamdul Haque, General Secretary of Parer Tong Collection Point Bazar said, and here we set a price.
Wholesalers buy at this price. He said that eight to ten thousand kg of Corolla is sold from this collection point every day. Tapas Chakraborty, divisional manager of Laltir Seed Limited, said that earlier in this village the locals used to cultivate paddy, kachu, vines and other vegetables. Now almost every family is involved in gourd cultivation. We suggest to the people of this village to grow tia first and then tia super variety. They got good yield by cultivating it. To say this yield is more than our expectations.
He said Corolla Tia and Tia Super are day neutral hybrid varieties. Altitude and salinity tolerant variety. It can be cultivated throughout the year except severe winters. Fruits are attractive green in color and moderately pitted. The fruit is moderately bitter, soft and delicious. Fruits are 28 to 30 cm long and weigh 250-280 grams. Its yield is 12-13 tons per acre. Harvesting can be started 42 to 45 days after planting.
Agronomist Zaheer Ahmed, chief manager of Lal Tir Seed Marketing, came from Dhaka to Srimangal to see the bumper crop of corolla in Tonga on Tuesday afternoon.
He said, “I came to see this bumper crop of Korla with my own eyes. I am truly overwhelmed by the results.”
Srimangal Upazila Agricultural Officer Agriculturist Md. Mohiuddin said, due to the profitableness of gourd cultivation, its production is increasing day by day.
In Srimangal upazila, more than 30 hectares of land have been cultivated this year. 90 percent of which is in Tong village.