Multiple-Cropping Can Boost up the Food Supply in the Market
Badsha Sek, a 42-years-old farmer has become the model farmers in the village called Amtili under the Union of Jionpur in the Daulatpur sub-district of Manikganj District. His family is comprised of five members including her wife, two sons, and one daughter.
Farmers like Badsha Sek is playing a vital role in terms of boosting up the vegetable supply in the market amid this pandemic situation. They are also confronting the COVID-19 by risking their lives in producing vegetables to fulfill public demand.
He has about 60 decimals of land including his courtyards. Badsha Sek joined the ADRA Bangladesh group in 2016 and received several pieces of training on agriculture; especially cow fattening, and multi-cropping. He intends to implement some types of technologies to earn more money at a minimal cost.
In agriculture, multiple cropping or multicopying is the practice of sequentially growing two or more crops in the same piece of land during one growing season instead of just one crop. It is a form of polyculture. It can take the form of double-cropping, in which a second crop is planted after the first has been harvested, or relay cropping, in which the second crop is started amidst the first crop before it has been harvested. A related practice, companion planting, is sometimes used in gardening and intensive cultivation of vegetables and fruits. One example of multi-cropping is tomatoes + onions + marigold; the marigolds repel some tomato pests.
“I’ve received training on multiple cropping and I’ve intended to implement this method on my lands. Therefore, I’ve started producing multiple crops on my lands. I’ve planted Brinjal (Eggplant), Amaranths leaves, Hot Chili, Muskmelon, and Squash by investing 3,200 BDT,” Badsha was unfolding his approach.
Later, he sold Eggplant which worth BDT 18,000.00; Amaranths leaves worth of BDT 3,000.00; and Squash with the worth of BDT 7,000.00. He believes that he will be able to sell Hot Chili at BDT 15,000.00 and Muskmelons at BDT 10,000.00 within the next two months. Besides that, he is rearing cows for a short duration and sell them before Eid-festival. He has bought 3 calves and he would rear them for 4-5 months and sell them at a high price during Eid-festival.
All his income spend for his family upholds and for his children's education. His wife also helps him abundantly. His children are meritorious and doing good in their studies. They are in a good position at this moment. He has become successful for his hard work and keeping harmonious interaction with ADRA Bangladesh staff in terms of implementing the trending technologies. ADRA monitoring team is eager to help the communities by supporting in various aspects. If any critical issues raise, project staff, help them to get support from the Upazila Agriculture Officer.
“I feel proud to be a member of the ADRA Bangladesh group. I’ve received training on different types of income-generating activities, as well as involve savings and credit activities. Though I haven’t received any loan from ADRA Bangladesh, I’m utilizing my talent and technologies that I’ve acquired from ADRA Bangladesh. My desire is to layout the multi-crop technologies among the community intending to boost up the earning sources for the underprivileged community people,” Badsha explicated his vision towards the betterment of the distressed community.
