RAJSHAHI, Oct 26, 2022 (BSS) - Vegetable farming through mulching method is gaining popularity in the region, including its vast Barind tract, as the method plays a vital role towards making the growers solvent and happy for the last couple of years.
 
Basically, mulching is an eco-friendly method of farming vegetables freed from chemical use widely practiced in China and Japan. The method is also helpful towards protecting the crops from weed and waterlogging caused by incessant rainfall.
 
Farmers of the region are seen using the method, including polythene and plastic mulching, in vegetable farming commercially and they are getting benefits in terms of boosting yield.
 
In the mulching method, farmers transplant seedlings on beds and cover those with either leafy branches of different trees and plants or polythene and plastics to make the seedlings safe.
 
Amzad Hossain, a farmer of Baroghoria village under Godagari Upazila, said they keep the provision of entering light and air into the seedbeds for healthy growth of vegetable plants.
 
Prof Abul Kalam Azad of the Department of Crop Science and Technology in Rajshahi University told BSS that they have been conducting research on farmers' fields on effect of various mulches on growth and yield of vegetables, including tomato, brinjal, cauliflower and cabbage, in the region.
 
Quoting their research findings, he said the prospect of promoting the mulching method in vegetable farming in the region is very bright in terms of boosting yield by reducing crop losses.  
 
Among various cultivation procedures, mulching has been reported to increase yield by creating favorable soil temperature and moisture regimes.
 
Prof Kalam Azad opined that mulch from a layer between the soil and the atmosphere prevented sunlight reaching the soil surface reducing evaporation to a greater extent.
 
Polythene mulching, especially blue polythene mulch improved soil conditions for plant growth and development significantly resulting in a positive effect on different growth parameters and total yield.
 
Growth and yield of vegetables were greatly influenced by different types of mulching materials.
 
Prof Azad said tomato grown using blue polythene mulch conserved better soil moisture, soil temperature and controlling weeds enhance the growth and yield of tomato.
 
He mentioned that blue polythene mulch can be recommended for better growth, yield, quality and profitability of vegetables in the context of the region.
 
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Mozdar Hossain said different types of vegetables, including brinjal, tomato, green chili and cauliflower, are being cultivated in the region through using the mulching method.
 
He attributed that organic vegetable farming has become a boon for many of the growers in the region as they are getting extra benefits besides ensuring safe vegetables to the consumers in general after the best uses of modern methods and techniques.
 
After getting government technical support the farmers are seen using different types of organic and bio-fertilizers and pesticides instead of the conventional chemical ones.
 
“I have attained more bean yield from 10 decimals of land after using organic fertilizer and pesticides compared to the conventional method,” said Ismail Hossain, a resident of Parila village under Paba Upazila.
 
He received 40 kilograms of organic fertilizer and five packets of seed for the bean cultivation from the government under the safe vegetable production programme.
 
Ismail is one among 500 farmers, who brought 100 acres of land under the safe vegetables production programme, cultivating varieties of seasonal vegetables encouraging and inspiring many of their fellow farmers to follow the best farming practices at the area.
 
Hossain said the Parila area has become a model in terms of safe vegetable production for the last couple of years.
 
“We are reaching safe vegetables to different parts of the country including the capital Dhaka regularly,” he said, adding the beneficiary farmers are being benefited in many ways.
 
Banera Khatun, 36, wife of Sabdul Mian in Darusha village, said, "We have been producing chemical-free vegetables, using vermi-compost. We are also selling some vegetables in the local market after meeting the family's demand."
 
Anwar Hossain, 40, a farmer at Alipur village in Durgapur upazila, said chemical-free vegetables are in high demand at the village, and locals are purchasing the vegetables at higher prices.