Two farmers collect pumpkins at Domar Char on the Teesta basin in the upstream of Teesta barrage in Nilphamari district. Cultivation of the vegetable on once barren lands brings bright prospect for the erosion-affected poor people in the area. Photo: STAR

Pumpkin cultivation is changing the lives of erosion victim people in sandy chars (newly emerged landmass) on the Teesta River, thanks to a few local and international organisations that extended logistic and technical support to the hapless people in this regard. During a recent visit to different char areas, this correspondent saw thousands of green and golden coloured pumpkins of different sizes and shapes on the sandy beds of Teesta River, showing all signs of life in the once barren lands. Local NGO Jhanjira Samaj Kalyan Samity (JSKS) motivated char people to cultivate pumpkins on Purbo Chhatnai, Jhar Shinherswar, Chairman Para, Baish Pukur, Nek Bakth, Alsia Para, Gudam Para, Foramari, Purbo Kachua and Minar Para on the Teesta River in Nilphamari district under a project 'Pathways from Poverty', said Abtab Hossain, agriculture extension officer of Dimla upazila. Project officer of JSKS Mamunur Rashid said 643 beneficiaries, all belonging to erosion and flood victim poor families, were selected for pumpkin cultivation on 135 acres (1 acre = 100 decimal) of land in the ten char areas. Each of the beneficiaries prepared 100 pits (small ditches where seeds are sown) and accordingly total 64,300 pits were prepared for making at least 1,20,000 pumpkin plants from seeds. A cultivator is expecting to get 280-300 pumpkins, each weighing 5kg to 15kg, said pumpkin farmers Shamsul Islam, Aref Mia and Jabbar Mia. "We are expecting bumper production of pumpkin on the Teesta chars this year as we gathered experience last year under our three-year-project extending 2009-2012 period," said project facilitator Asaduzzaman Bipul. Farmer Shamsul Islam said they can preserve the pumpkins for long time as JSKS helped each of the beneficiaries to make a three-storied storeroom made of bamboo and straw. “Now we do not have to migrate to different places in search of work during the flood time. In lean period when there is scarcity of vegetables, we can sell our preserved pumpkins at Tk 10-12 per kg which is only Tk 5-6 per kg in harvesting time. With this product we can easily drive away our poverty,” he said. Pulin Chandra, Ansar Ali and Lalmohon echoed the same. “The project Pathways from Poverty has a goal to prevent char people from migrating to different towns and cities by helping them to gain self-reliance so that they can face all odds during floods and erosion,” said Shakhawat Hossain, field coordinator of JSKS. To implement the project, the government of Bangladesh and UK-based organisation DFID is funding them through a programme titled 'Stimulating Household Improvement Resulting in Economic Empowerment' (Shiree), he said. "Another organisation Practical Action is providing technical support. Under the project, the farmers are getting logistic and technical support free of cost. Another NGO 'OVA' is also cultivating pumpkins in other areas of Teesta chars," he added. Contacted, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Nilphamari, Mamunur Rashid said, "By cultivating pumpkins in Teeata chars, the erosion and flood victim people are changing their lot and contributing to national economy as well."