Early-season bottle gourd farming booms in Kaliganj
Farmers across the Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur are busy cultivating early-season bottle gourds, attracted by the crop’s relatively short growing period, lower labor costs and strong market demand.
The growing popularity of trellis-based cultivation is helping improve farmers’ livelihoods and strengthening the rural economy as favorable weather, improved seed varieties and agricultural extension services encourage the expansion of commercial farming.
During a recent visit to Birtul village in Nagari Union, extensive cultivation of several high-yielding varieties, including BARI Lau-1, BARI Lau-2, BARI Lau-3, BARI Lau-4 and the improved hybrid variety Moyna, was observed. Local farmer Md. Masud Sarkar said he had invested approximately Tk 30,000 in cultivating early-season bottle gourds on two bighas of land near the Balu River.
He has already earned more than Tk 50,000 from selling the produce, while harvesting is expected to continue until April.
“Bottle gourd cultivation involves less risk and offers better returns than many other crops. However, ensuring an adequate water supply is essential,” he said, adding that artificial pollination could help increase production.
Mohammad Monir Uddin Molla, an assistant agricultural officer at the upazila level, said bottle gourds grow well in hot and humid weather. February to April and June to August are considered suitable periods for cultivation.
He added that the region’s soil, particularly loose loamy and sandy-loam soil, is well suited to bottle gourd production.
“Training and field-level advice have increased both farmers’ interest in cultivation and their yields,” he said, noting that proper pest and disease management could help farmers earn significantly higher profits.
Dr. Md. Abdullah Al Faruk, acting deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Gazipur district, said trellis-based bottle gourd cultivation was a profitable farming method.
He said farmers could achieve better yields through artificial pollination, proper planning and regular crop care. Selecting improved varieties, planting seedlings at the appropriate time and following recommended cultivation practices could also reduce pest attacks.
According to him, biological pest management can lower production costs while supporting the production of safer vegetables.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Extension Office, a target was set to cultivate bottle gourds on approximately 205 hectares of land in the upazila this year. Under favorable conditions, the average yield could reach around 70 maunds per bigha, equivalent to approximately 20 tonnes per hectare, according to the office.
Agricultural official said the use of improved cultivation techniques and suitable seed varieties could further increase production. BARI Lau-4 and Moyna are among the high-yielding varieties recommended for cultivation.
