In Rajshahi, Bangladesh, tomato growers are expected to earn at least Tk 400m earning from tomato farming during the current season. This huge profit is attributed to the introduction of high yielding and hybrid varieties, as well as the use of modern technology.
According to officials at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the cultivation has been increased by five to six times during the last 15 to 20 years.
Dr Shakhawat Hossain, Senior Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), said they developed 10 high yielding and quality varieties. BARI has been implementing special programmes to promote those among the growers through arranging farmers training and demonstration plots in different areas. The rates of production of the developed varieties are comparatively high and more profitable compared to domestic varieties.
Tomato farming is gaining popularity everywhere in the region as it is now considered the second cash crop and plays an important role in the economy, financially benefiting at least 0.2 million families there.
Tomato cultivators said that they earn between Tk 20 and 25 thousand by cultivating tomato on each bigha of land in a season. The early varieties have appeared in the local markets, but are beyond the purchasing capacity of lower and lower-middle class people.
The wholesale price of a maund of tomato is now around Taka 2,000 to 2,400, but the price will come down to around Tk 100 per maund late in the season, sources said.
