RANGPUR, Oct 14, 2021 (BSS) - The government has fixed a target of

producing over 16,09,185 tonnes of winter vegetables from 65,681 hectares of
land for the two agriculture regions of Rangpur division during the current
(2021-2022) Rabi season.  

     Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said the
fixed target includes production of 9,48,360 tonnes of winter vegetables from
38,350 hectares of land in five districts of Rangpur agriculture region.  

     Besides, 6,60,825 tonnes of winter vegetables will be produced from
27,331 hectares of land in three districts of Dinajpur agriculture region in
the division.

     During the last (2020-2021) Rabi season, farmers produced 15,61,680
tonnes of winter vegetables from 66,107 hectares of land in all eight
districts under the two agriculture regions in the division braving the
Covid-19 pandemic.

     Meanwhile, the government has already taken ample steps like
distribution of special incentives, high quality seeds and fertilisers among
farmers to make the intensive winter vegetables' farming programme successful
in the division this season.

     The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Institute
of Nuclear Agriculture, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation and
other organisations will supply quality seeds, agri-inputs and provide
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.  

     Talking to BSS, Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region
Agriculturist Bidhu Bhusan Ray said farmers are showing interest in farming
winter vegetables on more land area after getting repeated bumper productions
with fair prices in recent years.  

     Farmers are continuing cultivation of winter vegetables and have already
sowed seeds on over 1,500 hectares of land after harvesting short duration
Aman rice and they will start harvesting early varieties of the vegetables
from the next month to reap better profits.  

     "Farming of winter vegetables will get full momentum soon when harvest
of the traditional varieties of Aman rice will continue in full swing from
the third week of November in the division," Ray said.  

     Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh
Agriculturalist Mamunur Rashid said farmers are expected to bring more lands
in both the mainland and riverine char areas under cultivation of winter
vegetables this season.

     Many farmers started farming winter vegetables soon after the recession
of floodwater from their submerged croplands in the low-lying and char areas
from the first week of September in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and
Rangpur districts this year.

     Besides, farmers are also cultivating winter vegetables after harvesting
short duration varieties of Aman rice from the first week of the current
month in all eight districts of Rangpur division.

      "As a result, early varieties of winter vegetables would appear in
local markets from the next month following early cultivation of those by
farmers under newer cropping patterns evolved in accordance with changing
climatic conditions," Rashid said.  

     Flood-hit farmers Saiful Islam of village Satvita and Abu Bakker of
village Noyagram in Kurigram said they have already cultivated early
varieties of winter vegetables after recession of floodwater last month.

     Farmers Azizar Rahman and Narayan Chandra Sen of village Bhimpur in
Rangpur said they have already sowed seeds of winter vegetables after
harvesting short duration varieties of Aman rice last week.

     They are expecting to start harvesting early varieties of winter
vegetables on their croplands to harvest those from the third week of
November and reap more profits.