Hill Harvest Hope: High-Yield BARl-4 Gourd Thrives in Raikhali
The Raikhali Hill Agricultural Research Centre was established in 1976 on nearly 100 acres of land in the Raikhali Union, located at the estuary of the Karnaphuli River, to develop crop varieties and agricultural technologies suitable for hilly regions. The centre, situated in Kaptai upazila, conducts research on various crops. After long efforts, the centre has finally achieved success in cultivating the BARl-4 variety of bottle gourd in the hills. Although this variety has been cultivated for many years, this is the first time the research centre has produced it on a large scale.
Currently, vast stretches of trellises across the fields are covered with the BARl-4 gourd plants. Gourds of various sizes are hanging in abundance—visually appealing and fully mature.
Dr. Muhammad Ziaur Rahman, Acting Chief Scientific Officer of the research centre, said the key characteristics of this variety are heat tolerance and year-round cultivability, making it highly suitable for hilly regions. The fruits are dark green with whitish specks, and each plant yields 10–12 gourds, with an average weight of about 2.5 kilograms.
He added that the gourds typically grow 42–45 centimeters in length with a diameter of 12–13 centimeters. Harvesting can begin 70–80 days after planting the seedlings. The plant’s life cycle ranges from 130–150 days, and yields per hectare stand at 80–85 tons. Due to its heat tolerance, farmers can cultivate this variety throughout the year for profitable returns.
Dr. Rahman noted that besides the hills, the variety is suitable for cultivation across all regions of Bangladesh. As an early summer crop, it can be grown by planting at the end of Falgun and sowing seeds even in Chaitra for transplanting in Baishakh.
Local farmers believe that cultivating this new variety will bring substantial profit, as bottle gourd remains in demand throughout the year. Interest among farmers in adopting this variety is already widespread.
DBTech/AKJN/EK/OR
