In Dumuria, Khulna, farmer grows elephant foot yam on 5 decimals: Tk 10,000 income on Tk 500 cost

Marginal farmer Mrityunjoy Mondal of Chhotobond village in Sahos union, Dumuria upazila of Khulna, has harvested about 400 kg of local-variety elephant foot yam from just 5 decimals of land.

He had planted 50 seedlings of the local variety on that land. After proper care, those plants produced about 400 kg of yam.

Mrityunjoy Mondal said his total cost for the yam cultivation was only Tk 500. Selling the harvest at Tk 25 per kg, he received Tk 10,000 in total. He said he was satisfied to get such a yield from little land with a small investment.

However, he thinks his income would have risen if the market price of the yam had been a little higher. In his words, even when production is good, farmers can earn more profit if the market rate is favourable.

According to the agriculture department, the soil and weather of Dumuria are suitable for tuber crops. With proper care, moderate cost and the necessary agricultural advice, good yields are possible even on small plots.

Dumuria Upazila Agriculture Officer, agriculturist Md Nazmul Huda, said the soil and weather of Dumuria are extremely suitable for tuber crops, and the agriculture department is regularly working to encourage farmers towards profitable, low-cost cultivation.

He said Mrityunjoy Mondal has proved that good yields are possible on a small amount of land with proper care and moderate cost, and that enterprising farmers like him are being supported with modern technology and necessary agricultural advice.