Jhenaidah farmer Zahir excels in cultivating Bahubali tomatoes

Amid a canopy of green leaves, bright red Bahubali tomatoes hang in clusters on bamboo trellises in Muraridah village, Jhenaidah Sadar. Farmer Zahir Uddin can barely hide his smile as he inspects the ripe fruit, which is being harvested every other day at around 2.5 maunds per day from his 22-decimal plot. The first harvest began after 70 days, and the tomatoes are currently selling at Tk20 per kilogram at wholesale.
Breaking from the conventional farming methods of his forefathers, Zahir has adopted modern techniques, achieving successive successes in cultivation. Throughout the year, he cultivates various crops on 4–5 bighas of land, including beans, cucumber, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, papaya, cabbage, cauliflower, and paddy. This season, however, his Bahubali tomato crop has been particularly remarkable. He said that when the market runs out of tomatoes, his crop can fetch between Tk80 to Tk100 per kilogram.
Zahir, an educated farmer who completed higher secondary school, began practising modern agriculture on his family land in 1997. He has since researched methods to make farming more profitable, timing his cultivation to follow seasonal crops and ensuring good market prices for each harvest. Today, he lives comfortably with his wife and supports the education of his two sons and one daughter. “To succeed, one must think and act in modern ways,” he said. Md Nur-e-Nabi, agriculture officer of Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila, praised Zahir’s approach. “We provide year-round support to farmers, including technical advice and pest management. Educated youth who adopt modern cultivation techniques can benefit quickly,” he said.