ITAHARI, May 1: Production of bitter gourd and cucumber in Sunsari district is projected to fall this year, despite expansion in farming area.
Though local farmers have done cucumber farming in 600 hectares, production has remained low compared to last year.
Easter Tarai district is unofficially called the 'pocket area' for vegetable farming.
According to Tirpit Narayan Mishra, a horticulture development officer with District Agriculture Development Office (DAO), dramatic change in climate condition is the main reason behind drop in cucumber production.
Around 6,225 tons of cucumber was produced in 525 hectares of land in Sunsari last year.
The production of bitter gourd is also expected to fall this year. Farmers have grown bitter gourd in 500 hectares of land this year, compared to 460 hectors last year.
Local farmers have cultivated different varieties of vegetables in 7,100 hectares of land. They have produced 92,300 tons of fresh vegetables till the first nine months of the current fiscal year.
“Vegetables farming area is expected to increase further this year as the season to cultivate vegetables like pumpkin, lady's finger and green beans is coming,” said Mishra.
Farmers from neighboring Indian villages of Basmatiya, Belaha and Kagain also bring their fresh product to sell in the local market. Vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, carrot, tomato, onion, garlic, cucumber, and pumpkin, among, others are consumed in the local market.
Vegetables wholesalers of Damak, Itahari, Dharan, Biratnagar, Belbari, Pathari, Urlabari and Narayanghat buy vegetables produced in Sunsari district and sell them in their respective markets.
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