By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, Oct 19, 2022 (BSS) - Responding to the call of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to bring every inch of land under crop farming, enthusiastic farmers have begun cultivation of winter vegetables on their croplands and homesteads in Rangpur agriculture region.
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said steps have been taken to inspire farmers and rural people in cultivating vegetables on their croplands, fallow lands and homesteads to enhance crop production.
 
"A production target of 9,61,170 tonnes of winter vegetables has been fixed from 40,470 hectares of land for the region during this current Rabi season," said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Mohammad Shah Alam.
 
Farmers have already brought 2,000 hectares of land under cultivation of early varieties of winter vegetables in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts of the region.
 
Sowing of winter vegetable seeds continues in the region where rural people, including women, are also cultivating vegetables on their homesteads, nearby abandoned and fallow lands.
 
"Following the call of the Prime Minister to enhance food production in the wake of global crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine War, farmers are cultivating vegetables with huge enthusiasm," Alam said.
 
Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Md. Mahbubar Rahman said farmers are showing interest in farming winter vegetables after getting repeated bumper productions with fair prices in recent years.
 
"Farming of winter vegetables will get full momentum when harvest of the traditional varieties of Aman rice will continue in full swing from the third week of November," Rahman said.
 
Deputy Director (Leave Reserved) of the DAE at Khamarbari in Dhaka Abu Sayem said farmers are expected to bring more lands in the mainland, riverine char areas and fallow homesteads under cultivation of winter vegetables.
 
Many farmers started farming early winter vegetables soon after the recession of floodwater from their submerged croplands in low-lying char areas 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 Rangpur region.
 
"As a result, some early varieties of winter vegetables have already appeared in local markets following early cultivation of those by farmers adopting newer cropping patterns amid changing climatic conditions," Sayem said.
 
Farmer Rafikul Islam of Paschim Madraine village in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur said he has cultivated brinjal on his 25 decimals of land spending Taka 8,000 so far and he will have to spend around Taka 7,000 more in the coming months.
 
"I am expecting to sell my produced brinjal at Taka 40,000 during the next four months," he said.
 
Farmer Badsha Mian of village Lohanipara in Badarganj upazila here said he has cultivated 'Lal Shak' and 'Mula Shak' on his 25 decimals of land, spending Taka 8,000.
 
"I have already started harvesting my cultivated 'Lal Shak' and 'Mula Shak'," he said, adding that he is expecting to sell his produce at Taka 22,000 by the next three weeks.
 
Many other farmers are expecting to start harvesting their cultivated early varieties of winter vegetables on their croplands from next month to reap more profits.