Squash farming shows promise

For small-scale and landless farmers living on the river char (landmass emerging from riverbed) areas of the Teesta, Dharla and Brahmaputra Rivers in Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Rangpur districts, making ends meet is a constant struggle. But around 5,000 such farmers in 50 chars have discovered a crop that can help: squash. With training from NGO Uttara Development Project Society, funded by Practical Action Bangladesh, shoal-dwelling squash farmers are achieving good results.

“We grew squash for the first time. It's a new vegetable in this area and our harvest expectation has been met,” says Jobeda Begum, 48, from the Brahmaputra char of Putimari in Kurigram's Chilmari upazila. “We used 20 kilograms of the harvested squash in the family, sent another 20 kilograms to relatives and sold 40 kilograms at up to Tk 25 per kilogram.”

Nazrul Islam, 55, from the Teesta River's Nohali char in Gangachara upazila is similarly happy with squash. “With help from the NGO I grew squash on sandy land for the first time and the experience has made me interested to grow it on a bigger scale. I earned Tk 1300 from selling 60 kilograms of squash in the field, and took 30 kilograms home to my family.”

“We use organic fertiliser and supply irrigation water,” says fellow squash grower, Mobarok Hossain, 63, from the Teesta's Kalmati char in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila. “Squash needs regular care but within Tk 100 it's possible to buy the seeds needed for a one-decimal field. I plan to farm squash on a commercial basis from next season.”

“Char farmers have harvested at least 80 kilograms of squash in the last two weeks,” says S.M. Mutakabbirul Haque, a district coordinator at Practical Action Bangladesh. “Each of them can harvest over 20 kilograms per week from a 3-decimal plot. Along with training, farmers were provided free fertiliser and seeds.”

Head of Practical Action's extreme poverty programme Md Nazmul Islam Chowdhury says practical experience in farming crops on char areas is useful in combating extreme poverty. “Crops like pumpkin and squash grown on unused char land can sustain char dwellers and their families,” he says.

Assistant Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Rangpur region Shah Alam agrees that commercial squash farming offers a chance for a better life for farmers in the char areas.