Commercial cultivation of Water Chestnut, locally known as panifal or Pani Singara, has become popular in the irrigated land of Satkhira. Now the district is meeting the demand of the capital Dhaka and other districts.
Gazi Mostakim, a Water Chestnut farmer of Debhata Upazila Sadar, said that long ago, a person named Abu Sayeed started cultivating this fruit by bringing seeds from neighboring India, but for decades, it has been started commercially in the fallow and irrigated land of Satkhira. Its cultivation is becoming increasingly popular in the district.
Abu Sayeed started cultivation of the fruit on a piece of land, it has been spread to Debahta, Kaliganj, Kolaroa, Tala and Sadar upazilas of the district.
Originally, from Bengal Bhadra month to Ashwin month, farmers cultivate Water Chestnut. In addition, the sale goes from the month of Agrayana to the month of Paush.
On the way to Satkhira-Kaliganj road, water fields were found on both sides of the road. On the way, in the dilapidated area of Debhata Upazila, on the way from Satkhira to Jashore, the cultivation of Water Chestnut has been extended to Sadar Upazila. Usually the farmers sit on the side of the highway to sell their Water Chestnut. Although the root of the tree is like a drop of water, the leaves float on the water. In addition, the fruit has two horn-like thorns, so it is known to locals as Panisingara. The fruits are green and red in appearance. The sweet tasty bronze comes out after leaving the crust.
Some farmers, including Aktar Hossain, Dipangkar Biswas, of Debhata Sadar, said that Water Chestnut is cultivated on arable land. Cultivation of Water chestnut per Bigha land costs Tk. 12-15,000, and the fruit is sold for Tk 45-50000. Its cultivation is quite profitable.
They said that the price of Water Chestnut per kilogram is sold at Tk 20-25. Recently, the fruit from Satkhira is going to various places of the country including Dhaka, Manikganj, Chittagong, Khulna, Bogra, Chuadanga and Magura.
Abdul Aziz Gazi, a farmer of Abdul Aziz Gazi, a farmer of Water chestnut in Gopinathpur village of Kolaroa upazila, Golam Mostafa of Jhikra village, said that farmers are suffering due to the increase of waterlogged land in the area every year. Because of this, they have cultivated Water chestnut as an alternative to fallow land. They said that the cultivation of this fruit started in the area of Satkhira Sadar, Kaliganj only 10-12 years ago, but a farmer named Azibar of Gopinathpur village in Kolaroa upazila brought seeds from Kaliganj upazila.
In this regard, Deputy Director of the Satkhira Agriculture Extension Department, Arobindo Mondal, said that despite the seasonal results, the demand for Water chestnut is increasing day by day.
