Rangpur division to produce 16.09 lakh tonnes winter vegetables

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RANGPUR, Nov 20, 2020 (BSS) – The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 16.09 lakh tonnes winter vegetables from 65,681 hectares of land in two agriculture regions of Rangpur division during this Rabi season.

The DAE officials said 9.06 lakh tonnes of winter vegetables will be produced from 38,736 hectares of land in five districts of Rangpur agriculture region and 6.60 lakh tonnes from 27,371 hectares of land in three districts of Dinajpur agriculture region in the division.

During the last Rabi season, farmers produced 15.61 lakh tonnes of winter vegetables from 66,107 hectares of land in the division.

Meanwhile, adequate steps have been taken and special incentives are being distributed among farmers to make the intensive winter vegetables’ farming programme successful in all eight districts of the division this season.

The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and other related organisations are supplying quality seeds, agri-inputs and providing necessary technical assistance to farmers.

The commercial banks, including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and some NGOs are disbursing easy-term agriculture loans among farmers to make the winter vegetable farming programme a success braving the coronavirus pandemic.

Acting Additional Director of the DAE for its Rangpur region said farmers are showing their keen interests in farming winter vegetables on more land area this time after getting repeated bumper productions with fair price in recent years.

Farmers are continuing cultivation of winter vegetables and have already sowed seeds on over 38,000 hectares of land after harvesting short duration Aman rice and started harvesting early varieties of the vegetables to reap better profits.

“Farming of winter vegetables will soon get full momentum when harvest of traditional variety Aman is going on in full swing from the third week of November in the division,” he added.

Meanwhile, early varieties of winter vegetables have already appeared in local markets bringing smiles to farmers with lucrative prices in the beginning of this Rabi season.

Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturalist Mamunur Rashid predicted a bumper output of winter vegetables following favourable climatic conditions and adequate assistance being provided by the government to farmers.

“Some winter vegetables have appeared in local markets now following early farming under newer cropping patterns evolved in accordance with changing climatic conditions,” Rashid said.

Meanwhile, vegetables traders have started exporting early varieties of winter vegetables to capital Dhaka city and other parts of the country by trucks from different points in the region.

“Some 50 to 60 trucks loaded with early varieties of winter vegetables are being sent to the capital city and other places daily from Rangpur division,” vegetable trader Hafizur Rahman at Rangpur City Market today told BSS today.

Farmers Kalimullah and Abdus Salam of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur said they have already started selling their early varieties of winter vegetables like cauliflower, brinjal, ‘Korola’, ‘Potol’, bean, ‘Jhinga’, ‘Kakrol’, green chili and other crops.

They expressed satisfaction over the present market prices of early varieties of different winter vegetables and hoped that they would be able to harvest early varieties of potato from the first week of December next.