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Arum farming brings solvency to Joypurhat farmers

The nutritious vegetable now an export item too

Kongkon Karmaker, Dinajpur
Many farmers in Joypurhat district are opting for arum cultivation, as shoots of the popular nutritious vegetable, locally known as kochur loti, has become an export item, making its farming more profitable than other agricultural items in the area.
Around 800 hectares of land in the district has been brought under arum farming this season, agriculture officials said, adding that about one tonne of arum can be produced on a hectare in six months.
"Arum farming is gradually gaining popularity as farmers are getting its fair prices. Its production cost is low too," said Md Abul Kalam Azad, a retired deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Joypurhat.
Arum farming requires no pesticides and very little costfornursing, said==.
Balighata market beside Hakimpur-Joypurhat road in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat sees huge supply of arum as farmers from Puranpoil, Dogachhi, Dhalahar, Badhsa and Mohammadabad of Joypurhat Sadar upazila and Balighata, Ratanpur, Dharangi, Aima Rasulpur, Khasbatta, Piara, Birnagar and Mahipur of Panchbibi upazila regularly bring the item there for sale.
Buyers from different districts including Dhaka
and Chittagong come to Balighata 'arum market' to procure the item and 10 to 15 truckloads of arum shoot leave Joypurhat for other parts of the country daily, said local traders.
Traders from Karwan Bazar and Savar in Dhaka are the main buyers of arum shoot, said Md Abul Hossain, a local trader.
After processing, the nutritious and palatable vegetable is exported to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India and a few European countries, said sources.
Local farmers and businessmen of Balighata 'arum market' have demanded setting up an 'arum processing zone' there.
"This item is tolerant to natural calamities and requires no pesticide. And so, its production cost is low. It can be cultivated on low lands," said local farmer Abdul Matin who brought his produce to Balighata market for sale.
"Last year I cultivated arum on two bighas of land and made satisfactory profit. This year I cultivated
it on four bighas of land," Moyez Uddin of Patabuka village in Panchbibi upazila said.
Khabir Uddin of the same village, who cultivated arum on four bighas of land this year, said, "Arum production continues for six months at least. Five to six thousand saplings are required for cultivating arum on one bighaofland."
During a visit to locala market it was found that arum shoot was selling at Tk 20 to 25 a kg, depending on quality and sizes.