Md. Osman Gani , Upazila Correspondent, Chandina || With the uncertainty of climate change, unseasonal rainfall and various natural adversities, the wind of change is blowing in agriculture in Chandina upazila of Comilla. Local farmers are changing their fate by crossing the traditional boundaries of traditional farming and touching modern technology. Plastic mulching and polyhouse system have now become popular in various areas of the upazila. Especially in the Pihar area of ​​Chandina, you can see transparent polythene covered shelters and vegetable fields wrapped in colorful plastic sheets one after another. By utilizing the good air of modern technology, incredible success has started to come in summer tomato cultivation in the Pihar area.Once upon a time, most of the farmers in Chandina used to grow their crops completely dependent on the weather. Due to unseasonal heavy rains, drought or excessive temperatures, hard work and capital would often go to waste. Especially sensitive crops like tomatoes were always at risk of rotting and spoiling. However, conscious farmers of Pihar area have chosen to eliminate that risk by using protected polyhouses and plastic mulching methods. Beautiful shade or poly tunnels have been made on the field using bamboo and special polythene that is resistant to ultraviolet rays, which is completely protecting the crops from hail and torrential rain. At the same time, covering the soil with silver and black mulching paper maintains soil moisture and prevents any kind of weeds from growing.According to agricultural experts, the main advantage of this integrated technology is to maintain soil fertility and ensure high yield at low cost. In conventional farming, a lot of labor was required for additional irrigation and weeding, but the wastage of fertilizer and water has been reduced to a great extent due to the mulching method. In addition, since a suitable environment is maintained inside the polyhouse, the attack of diseases, pests and insects is negligible. Specific bamboo poles and thread supports are being used to ensure adequate irrigation and air at the base of the tree. Within the orderly environment of the polyhouse, rows of tomato trees are now growing with green leaves and branches, which gives a clear message of bumper yields and good profits in the future.This successful initiative of the Pihar area has breathed new life into the overall economy of Chandina. As it is possible to market in the off-season or off-season, farmers are getting the opportunity to sell tomatoes at prices several times higher than usual. The value of these tomatoes, produced in a poison-free and protected environment, is also increasing day by day in the local market as well as in the district and national wholesale markets. Seeing this incredible success of local farmers, farmers from other nearby villages are now also becoming interested in this high-value modern technology-based cultivation.This addition of modern technology to traditional agriculture is taking Chandina to a new address of prosperity in the need of the hour. If adequate training, easy-to-use loans and modern agricultural inputs can be provided to these enterprising farmers from the government and private sectors, then the Pihar model of Chandina will be a shining example in the production of safe vegetables and tomatoes across the country.