In Rajshahi, including the expansive Barind area, farmers have begun selling green tomatoes, with commercial growers notably engaging in the trade to capitalize on market rates. The hybrid green tomatoes are fetching prices ranging from 18 to 20 USD per mound wholesale, and 1.60 to 1.70 USD per kilogram in retail outlets. Godagari upazila leads in tomato cultivation due to its favorable conditions for this cash crop, supported by suitable climate and market structures. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) reports tomato cultivation spanned 3,600 hectares in the district, with Godagari contributing 2,245 hectares. Farmers find tomato cultivation lucrative, with earnings of 400 to 500 USD per bigha per season. The youth in Godagari are notably benefiting, achieving self-reliance through tomato farming.
Wholesale trade is active, with green tomatoes being distributed locally and to major cities including Dhaka. Farmers, having adopted commercial cultivation practices over the past seven to eight years, are seeing direct benefits from sales to traders. Success stories abound, with farmers like Imam Hossain expecting substantial yields and profits from their investments in tomato farming. Costs of cultivation average between 400 to 500 USD per bigha, with returns of up to 1,500 USD. The shift towards high-yielding and hybrid tomato varieties, coupled with modern farming techniques, has multiplied cultivation five to six times in the last 15 to 20 years. This season, farmers are enjoying profitable returns and high market demand, with chemical-free tomatoes being distributed beyond local needs to various districts, including Dhaka. Over 100,000 families in the region now benefit financially from tomato cultivation and related trade, according to DAE's Mahmudul Faruque.
Source: BSS News