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Veg farming using Mulching method gains popularity in Rajshahi


Published : 27 Dec 2022 07:23 PM

Production of vegetables using Mulching process is increasing in Rajshahi. The process is getting popular among the farmers as it is cost effective and needs no extra care to grow. 

Mulching is a process of producing environmentally friendly, insecticide-free vegetables. Under this process more vegetables are produced at a lower cost. 

It is learnt, nowadays, excessive insecticides and harmful chemical fertilisers are used to produce vegetables. But the vegetables produced through Mulching process are insecticides free, fresh and chemical free. Some farmers of Godagari Upazila have been producing vegetables using this process for more than the last four-year.  This year, farmers have produced vegetables using the method on nine hectares of land. 

Abed Ali, a farmer of Ishwaripur village under Godagari Upazila informed, he started to cultivate vegetables using Mulching method by watching it on the internet. Later, he consulted with the local Agriculture Officer who encouraged him to use the process in producing vegetables. He further said, such a method of producing vegetables requires almost no insecticides, no chemical fertiliser and very small amounts of water. Under this process, rows of small heaps of soil are prepared using bio-fertiliser and those rows are then covered with polythene sheets. Later, small holes are made by cutting polythene over the heaps and saplings of vegetables are transplanted on those heaps of soil. Often a drain is also kept inside the rows for supply or extraction of water. 

This system of farming requires almost no care of plants to produce. Anarul Islam and Amir Ali of village Kadipur under Godagari informed, the soil being covered with polythene, no germ or fungus is attacked on the plant. As a result, almost no insecticide is required to apply on the vegetables plants. Moreover, no weed can be grown in the soil which requires less farm labourers to take care of the plants. By using biofertilizers, the farmers can also harvest double the amount of vegetables than those grown through conventional methods. 

Otonu Sarker, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Iswaripur block informed, through the Mulching process, farmers produce fresh vegetables using less water, less chemical fertiliser and less insecticides. This process is more profit bearing and long lasting. 

Marium Ahmed, Upazila Agriculture Officer of Godagari informed, Mulching is a modern method of agriculture. Fresh vegetables are being produced on nine hectares of land in the Upazila by using Mulching process for the last three-year. 

A project is being undertaken to produce safe crops and vegetables using a newly environment friendly method. Farmers are being greatly benefitted by using this method. 

The process retains the moisture of soil and requires less water and pests and weeds usually do not attack the plants. She hoped to expand this process of farming in the Upazila further in future.