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RAJSHAHI, Aug 15 (UNB): Early harvesting of papaya is going on in full swing in all nine upazilas of the district with an expected bumper production this season.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said the papaya growers in the district are likely to achieve its target this season due to favourable weather and the use of high yielding seeds.
A total of 1,050 hectares of land were brought under papaya cultivation this year in the district with an output target of 15,000 tonnes, the sources said.
The DAE supplied necessary seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to help papaya growers to achieve the target.
The upazilas brought under papaya farming are Godagari, Tanore Bagmara, Mohanpur, Durgapur, Putia, Bagha, Charghata and Sadar.
Some growers began early harvesting this season for the high price of papaya at Durgapur, Taherpur and Baneshwar and other wholesale markets in the district, sources said.
Growers had been disinterested in papaya cultivation for the last three to four years due to low price, but this year they have increased cultivation of papaya, finding high price at local markets.
"I incurred a great loss last year due to low price of papaya and its delayed harvesting. But this year I started early harvesting to get fair price", a grower, Yameen of Dhopaghata in Mohanpur Upazila, told the news agency.
Another grower, Rabiul of Ramrama in Bagmara Upazila, said he did not cultivate papaya last year, but this year he brought five bighas of land under papaya farming, as its price was high at local markets.
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