Farmers in Jibannagar upazila are reaping significant profits from cultivating high-yield summer tomatoes using the trellis method, which has rapidly grown in popularity due to its short cultivation cycle and strong market demand. With increasing interest in hybrid summer varieties such as Thailand’s Barsha, Queen and Bangladesh’s Bari-8, growers are reporting excellent yields and substantial financial returns. Farmers say a four-month cultivation cycle can generate profits of Tk 100,000 to Tk 150,000 per bigha after expenses, with average production reaching 100 to 110 maunds per bigha.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Jibannagar, farmers from several villages have turned to short-duration, high-yield tomato varieties. The Barsha Queen variety, known for its large fruit size and high productivity, becomes market-ready within 50 to 60 days of planting and sells at higher prices than other varieties. With winter approaching, current market demand for tomatoes has surged. Seedlings of hybrid summer tomatoes are planted in June and July, and the crop is marketed from October onward. Winter tomatoes have also begun to enter the market alongside the summer varieties.
Abdul Majid, a farmer from Paschim Barandi village in Raypur Union, said he cultivates hybrid tomatoes every year. This season, he planted tomatoes on one bigha of land using the trellis method, which, he said, results in higher yields and reduces the chance of fruit damage. The technique also makes it easier to apply fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation, while simplifying harvesting and field management. He said he invested Tk 150,000 in one bigha and has already earned Tk 200,000. With the tomatoes remaining in the field, he expects to earn an additional Tk 100,000.
Another farmer, Tariqul Islam, told BSS that he cultivated trellis-grown Thailand hybrid and Barsha Queen tomatoes on three bighas. Barsha Queen tomatoes are currently selling at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kilogram. He invested Tk 400,000 and has already sold Tk 500,000 worth of tomatoes. The tomatoes still in the field are expected to generate another Tk 400,000. He said he collected hybrid Barsha Queen seeds in June and prepared seedbeds, with seedlings becoming ready for transplanting in 20 to 25 days. He also earned Tk 80,000 from selling tomato seedlings this season.
Farmer Ashraful, who cultivated Barsha Queen tomatoes on 1.5 bighas, said he planted 4,500 seedlings and spent Tk 180,000 overall. Favorable weather has contributed to excellent yields, and he expects to harvest 120 maunds of tomatoes per bigha.
Jibannagar Upazila Agriculture Extension Officer Pavel Rana told BSS that farmers in the area have widely cultivated summer Barsha Queen tomatoes due to their high yield and strong market price. He said the department plans to arrange training sessions to help farmers expand cultivation in the coming seasons.
Masudur Rahman Sarkar, deputy director of the Chuadanga Department of Agricultural Extension, said Jibannagar produces the highest volume of tomatoes and other crops among the district’s four upazilas. This year, 32 bighas have been brought under cultivation of high-yield Barsha, Queen and Bari-8 tomato varieties. June and July are the optimal planting months for these hybrids, which require higher investment but also ensure greater profit margins. Yields typically range from 110 to 115 maunds per bigha.
He added that the cultivation target for winter tomatoes this season has been set at 1,100 bighas across the district.
