RAJSHAHI, Bangladesh, Nov 21 (BSS)- Bumper production of the winter vegetables is being expected everywhere in the 16 northern districts under Rajshahi division during the current Rabi season by virtue of the favorable topography and weather.

All varieties of winter vegetables have now appeared in abundance in the local markets and the yield rate achieved so far are found to be higher than that of the target due to early farming of the vegetables, Officials in the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said.

Meanwhile, the market price of all varieties of vegetables especially lalshak, palangshak, sheem and mula has been declined to abnormal level frustrating the farmers side by side with making the purchasers happy.

The DAE has fixed an average yield rate of all varieties winter vegetables at 15 tonnes per hectare this time, the sources said.

Under the programme, a total of around 18 lakh tonnes different varieties of vegetables will be produced in 1.23 lakh hectares in all 16 districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur agriculture zones in the country's northern region this season.

Under the programme, 12,000 hectares in Rajshahi, 7,500 hectares each in Naogaon and Sirajganj, 6,500 hectares in Natore, 9,500 hectares in Chapainawabganj, 16,000 hectares in Pabna, 8,500 hectares in Bogra and 5,000 hectares will be brought under the cultivation of winter vegetables in Joypurhat districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone, the DAE sources said.

Apart from this, 8,000 hectares of land were brought under winter vegetables in Rangpur, 6,000 hectares each in Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Thakurgaon, 5,000 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 10,000 hectares in Dinajpur and 4,000 hectares in Panchagarh districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone.

Officials said the DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and many NGOs have been supplying adequate quality seeds, other agro-inputs and providing necessary technical assistance to the farmers for making the cultivation a total success.

Additional director of DAE Akterul Afghan told BSS that emphasis is being given to increasing production of high yielding seeds and saplings through farmers' level extension and application of the high yielding varieties.

Farmers are being habituated with homestead gardening through establishing projection plot of improved technologies adjacent to the localities for enhancing vegetable output.

As a result of this, he said gardening around homesteads in the Barind region is becoming increasingly popular with production of different common fruits and vegetables for own consumption and also to sell the surplus for extra income.

In addition to this, he said modern technologies are being transferred among the growers level through farmers training, projection plot, field day and different types of campaign so that the farmers could make their cultivation more effective and profitable.

Different commercial banks, including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and other commercial banks, NGOs have been disbursing agriculture loans and interest-free loans among the farmers to make the cultivation of winter vegetables successful.