ZCZC
BSS-10
BUMPER-VEGETABLES (with picture)
Farmers eye bumper vegetables production in Rangpur region
RANGPUR, Jan 13, 2019 (BSS) – Farmers are expecting a bumper production of
winter vegetables after exceeding its fixed farming target of the crops in
all five districts of Rangpur agriculture region this season.
“The farmers have already cultivated winter vegetables on 38,766 hectares
of land, higher by 2.75 percent against the fixed farming target on 37,729
hectares to produce 7.86 lakh tonnes of vegetables in the region,” said
Horticulture Specialist of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE)
Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.
Under the programme, the farmer have cultivated the crops in 12.560
hectares of land in Rangpur, 7,570 hectares in Gaibandha, 6,998 hectares in
Kurigram, 6,333 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 5,305 hectares of land in
Nilphamari districts in the region.
“Following expanded cultivation of early varieties of winter vegetables
adopting new cropping patterns, the vegetables have flooded the local markets
now with excellent yield rates and lucrative prices under favourable climate
in the region,” he said.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), Bangladesh
Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) and NGOs supplied quality seeds,
inputs and provided necessary technical assistance to the farmers.
In addition to this, different commercial banks and many NGOs disbursed
easy-term agriculture loans among the farmers to make the intensive winter
vegetables farming programme successful this time.
“Meanwhile, the farmers are still been continuing cultivation of late
varieties of winter vegetables after harvesting the early, short and long
duration variety Aman rice side by side with continuing harvest of the early
variety vegetables,” Islam added.
Talking to BSS, farmers said continuous harvests of early varieties of
winter vegetables with excellent yields made them happy bringing excellent
market prices at this stage of the season.
Bigger vegetable trader at Badarganj Bazar here Malek said vegetables
traders were exporting huge quantities of harvested winter vegetables to
capital Dhaka city and other parts of the country daily by trucks from
different points of the region.
“Some 110-120 trucks loaded with winter vegetables are being sent to the
capital city and other places daily from all five districts of Rangpur
agriculture region,” said vegetable trader Abdullah at Shothibari Bazar in
Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur.
Talking to BSS, farmers Kamrul Huda and Shafikur Rahman of Taraganj upazila
said they started harvesting and selling potato, cauliflower, brinjal,
‘bitter gourd’, ‘bean, green chili and many other vegetables daily.
Farmer Tauhidul Islam of Pirganj upazila here expressed satisfaction over
excellent yield rates and markets price of winter vegetables bringing
lucrative profits to the farmers of the region.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman said the
farmers were expanding cultivation of both winter and summer vegetables round
the year to earn better profits as many of them already attained self-
reliance in recent years.
BSS/SPL/MI/RY/1620 hrs