Farming in polynet houses in the district especially in Barind areas has gained success during the recent times.
Polynet house is an innovation of agricultural science to face the challenge of climate change.
Polynet house is a tent-like house made with iron frame and polythene to protect crops and seedlings from external harmful weather. The houses are used for growing crops around the year in any type of weather.
Shamim Reza and Sadiqul Islam Tutul, two farmers of Bongpur under Gomastapur upazila of the district, are dreaming of success by cultivating vegetables and flowers using the 'Polynet house' method.
Farmers Shamim Reza and Sadiqul Islam Tutul made polynet houses six months ago.
Shamim Reza has grown seedlings of different crops and cultivated cucumbers in his polynet house without using any pesticide. On the other hand, Sadiqul Islam cultivated tomato and Chandra Mollika flowers in his polynet house.
Shamim Reza said polynet house has multiple benefits. It protects crops from drought, rain, hailstorms, extreme cold and any other natural discomfort that may harm crops.
He informed that growing seedlings of different crops is more beneficial in polynet house than the cultivation of crops. Before using polynet house, seedbeds used to be destroyed in rain, extreme fog and extreme sun-heat but now he can grow seedlings easily without any fear of destruction.
Mizanur Rahman, a farmer of Lebudanga under the same upazila came to buy seedlings of brinjal from Shamim Reza's polynet house and he said that 99 percent of seedlings of polynet house survive when they are planted in crop fields whereas 35 to 40 percent of other seedlings were died after plantation.
Sadiqul Islam Tutul said "I am only the cultivator of flowers in the district. Cultivation of flowers outside is risky because after a bulky investment, the trees can die anytime causing a great loss. For this reason, I took the initiative to grow flowers in the polynet house. I am now growing Chandra Mollika and I have a plan to grow Zarbera and Tulip later."
Farming in polynet house is a time-befitting and appropriate method. Now we can grow crops, seedlings and flowers without facing any problem.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said polynet houses were constructed free of cost under a project titled "Agriculture Development Project for Rajshahi Division through Expansion of Modern Technology."
In the polynet house, there are benefits of shade net for resisting 60 percent sunlight, insect net for resisting insects and modern Drip and Mist Irrigation System, the sources added.
A total of six polynet houses in which two in Sadar, two in Shibganj and two in Gomostapur upazilas have so far been constructed, the DAE office said.
Gomostapur Upazila Agriculture Officer Tanvir Ahmed Sarker said, "Polynet house is an ultramodern technology to face the adverse impact of climate change. The harmful rays of the sun cannot enter into the polynet house and it can protect crops from all climatic disadvantages and pest attacks and so high-priced crops can be cultivated in the polynet house round the year safely."
Munjer Alam, a farmer and an entrepreneur also started farming in a polynet house at Dakkhin Sahar area in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila in 2021.
The polynet house was constructed with the fund of the aforesaid project, said Munjer Alam.
This year he has cultivated tomato, BARI-12 brinjal and prepared seedlings of winter vegetables.
