Sterile plants upset tomato growers

A large number of tomato growers, especially the users of an imported variety of seeds, in several villages of Bororchar union in Mymensingh Sadar upazila are in serious trouble as the plants hardly see any fruit during the ongoing peak harvesting season.

Over 400 farmers are engaged in tomato cultivation in Bagherkanda, Kustiapara, Bororchar, Kacharipara, Mridhapara, Boithamari, Battipara, Jafor Mondol and Modhumari villages in Bororchar union.

In the area popular for vegetable cultivation, the local markets are now buzzing with buyers from different areas and trucks loaded with a variety of winter vegetables including tomato go for different destinations every day, locals said.

"Last year I got bumper production of tomato from one hectare of land and sold the vegetable worth around Tk 5 lakh. This year I planted Kanak variety of seeds on the land but I am yet to get any fruit,” said Md Harun of Bagherkanda.

“I am now upset as I had to invest Tk 2 lakh for tomato cultivation including the costs for seeds, soil preparation and labourers,” he said.

A good number of farmers have similar tales to tell.

Farmers cultivated tomato on some 200 hectares of land in Bororchar area this year and of it, plants on some 125 hectares see problem, said sources of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

Many farmers in Bororchar started cultivating 'Kanak', a hybrid variety of tomato seeds imported by Agriconcern Ltd, a Dhaka-based seed company, a couple of years ago but the serious problem in fruiting was seen for the first time this year, said local farmers and company officials.

"A serious fall in the yield of Kanak variety of tomato has been noticed in Mymensingh this year. Following complaints from Bororcahr farmers, we are contacting them to make a list of the actual losers,” said Kazi Mahbub Morshed, deputy managing director of Agriconcern Ltd in Dhaka.

Denying any fault with the seeds, he said, “It was planted in September and October. Excessive heat prevailing that time might be the cause of sterility and drying out of the tomato plants.”

Md Altabur Rahman, deputy director of DAE, said, "The situation might have occurred due to high amount of nitrogen in the soil as the plants seemed overgrown. There might be problems in seeds. Several teams of DAE visited the area and we are investigating the matter."