Lankeshor Singha of Uttar Baniary village in Nazirpur upazila under the district has seen success in growing potol, or pointed gourd, cultivating the vegetable for the first time in the area this year.

"In last February, I collected some potol creepers from Mollarhat upazila of adjacent Bagerhat district and planted them on 33 decimals of land," said the 55-year-old farmer.

"It is not that difficult to grow the popular vegetable. After one and a half months of planting, I started getting yield. Every week, I collect 15-20 kg of potol from my garden and sell them in the local market for Tk 35-40 a kg.

Instead of pesticide, he uses environment-friendly sex pheromone traps.

"Now other farmers of my village are showing interest to cultivate potol. I hope that I will be able to sell it to the local farmers from next year," Lankeshor said.

Lankeshor's wife Mamata Singha, 40, said often she takes care of the potol garden, especially when her husband remains busy in other fields.

Generally potol is brought to Pirojpur from Khulna and sells for good prices.

"Cultivating potol for the first time in the area, Lankeshor has seen success. It is likely to spread rapidly in the upazila as it has special demand in the local market," said Bijan Krishna Howlader, sub-assistant agriculture officer in Nazirpur.