GAURIPUR, Aug 10 - Naisarkuti village situated along the Gadadhar river under Golakganj revenue circle has brought about a revolutionary change by planting pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica) in a massive way.
The village inhabited mostly by people from the Bihari community cultivated pointed gourds(potol) in their land and were able to change their economic condition within a few years. Some progressive farmers of the village plant pointed gourd by hiring land of other farmers on a contractual contractual system. The area is covered by high land and is useful for pointed gourd plantation.
Ramkrishna Chauhan, a progressive cultivator of the village planted pointed gourd in 35 bighas of land and was able to pluck a bumper production. He is considered as one of the richest cultivators of the village and he has set an example for the famers of his community. Rampiar Chauhan, another farmer planted pointed gourd in 25 bighas of land and Lakshman Chauhan another farmer planted pointed gourd in 40 bighas of land and was able to set a rare example to his fellow farmers of the locality.
Nurul Haque, a farmer of the area planted ponted gourd in 20 bighas of land and was able to earn good income. So also Narisuddin SK, Dipak Chauhan, Amar Singh Chauhan, Ram Dulal Chauhan were able to earn expected income. These progressive farmrs told this correspondent that they have been able to stand on their own feet without the help of the Agriculture Department and they are proud of their own efforts. Taking their example a number of farmers of villages like Sahebganj, Materjhar, Lalkura, etc., are also seen busy in their fields.
The farmers planted the crop in the latter part of September and raise it on a platform as the plant is a climber and apply compost manure. After around six months, most likely in the later part of March, they pluck the matured gourds for sale.
The farmers told this correspondent that they had to spend Rs 1500 per bigha of plantation and the yield per bigha ranges from 5/7 mounds and are able to earn Rs 65,000 per bigha. However, due to severe hot weather this time, many creepers have dried up and the production is less than the expectation.
Due to the lack of cold storage, presence of middlemen and the non-cooperation of the Agriculture department, the farmers usually fell prey to brokers coming from outside the area and therefore they have demanded support price from the government agencies.
