Bogura farmers fetch profit from early winter vegetable

Farmers in Bogura have started cultivating early winter vegetables as it proved more lucrative than other crops.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources, the early cultivation of winter vegetables is going on about 2,800 hectares of land in the district. Agriculturists estimate about 50,000 tonnes of harvest this season.

Bogura is known for its winter vegetable cultivation. Currently, the farmers of the 12 upazilas of the district are busy with ploughing, planting seedlings, watering and weeding their vegetable farms.

A variety of winter vegetables are being cultivated commercially, including cauliflowers, cabbages, gourds, beans, aubergines, radishes, bitter gourds, pointed gourds, spinach and red amaranth.

The DAE officials are helping farmers by training them on the use of advanced technology in vegetable cultivation. The use of modern methods increases production and in turn, the farmers profit more.

Farmers expect a bumper harvest if the weather remains favourable.

Lutfar Rahman, a farmer of Shajahanpur upazila, said he has cultivated early-season vegetables on four bighas of land this year.

“Vegetable cultivation requires less capital but more care than many other crops. Regular pesticide application is needed but vegetables can also be harvested fast and sold for a good profit,” he said.

The farmer added that keeping some of the harvests for themselves is cost-effective for low-income people.

“Like previous years, I am cultivating winter vegetables during the off-season on three bighas of land. But our cultivation cost has also increased along with the cost of fuel and other commodities,” said Alamgir Hossain of Shahnagar village, adding that he expects a good yield and fair prices this year also.

Many farmers like them in Shajahanpur, Shariakandi, Dhunot, Nondigram and Shibganj upazilas of the district are currently busy preparing their fields for winter vegetable cultivation.

However, the farmers are also worried about the increased cost of cultivation this year as oil and fertiliser prices have gone up considerably.

Dulal Hossain, deputy director of Bogura DAE, said this year, winter vegetables are being cultivated early in the district on 2,800 hectares of land from which about 50,000 tonnes of yield is expected.

“Winter vegetable cultivation will increase gradually. Bogura is famous for vegetable cultivation and the vegetables of this district are transported all over the country including Dhaka,” he said.

He added that last year, farmers cultivated early winter vegetables on 3,250 hectares of land and got a yield of 54,000 tonnes.