Khulna achieves bumper winter vegetable production worth Tk 2,858 crore, boosting farmer income and exports. Photo : BSS

By S M Zahid Hossain

KHULNA, Nov 23, 2025 (BSS) - Khulna, widely known as the granary of the country, has once again witnessed a bumper production of winter vegetables this season, with an estimated market value of Tk 2,858.83 crore, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Farmers and agricultural officials said that improved seed production, innovative cultivation techniques, and favourable weather have contributed to the impressive output.

Officials said the excellent yield was made possible through favourable weather conditions, the supply of quality seeds, fertilizers, and agro-inputs, as well as technical assistance provided by the DAE, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In addition, banks including Krishi Bank and NGOs, have disbursed loans and interest-free credit to ensure the success of the large-scale winter vegetable cultivation programme.

The upazila's pesticide-free and safe vegetables are now being exported abroad, bringing immense joy to local farmers who take pride in seeing their hard-earned produce reach international markets.

Alongside production, a stable and well-organized vegetable marketing system has developed in the region.

Although vegetables are grown year-round, winter brings the highest volume of cultivation. The export of safe, pesticide-free vegetables from Khulna DAE Zone, covering Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail districts, to foreign markets is also rising, further motivating local growers.

Farmers and traders said that good prices over recent years have encouraged them to expand winter vegetable farming, especially cultivating early varieties for higher profit margins.

This season, both weather and market conditions have been favourable, boosting farmers' income.

Across vast fields of the districts, winter vegetables, including rows of bottle gourd, hyacinth bean, cauliflower, cabbage, kohlrabi, chilli, red amaranth, radish greens, spinach and other winter crops are now flooded in the kitchen markets across the division.

Farmers remain busy with irrigation, weeding, spraying and crop management from dawn to dusk. Thousands of growers have already benefited from diversified vegetable cultivation this season. 

Talking to BSS, National Krishi Padak awardee and nationally recognized vegetable farmer Abu Hanif Morol of Dumuria Upazila in Khulna said the output this year has been excellent due to various government initiatives and favourable weather.

"Cauliflower, kohlrabi, cabbage, tomato, bean, brinjal, red amaranth- everything has yielded well and the prices are good," he noted.

Mofiz Mia, a farmer from Golna village of the upazila, said he cultivated beans, tomatoes and kohlrabi on six bighas of land.

"The yield and prices are both satisfactory. Dumuria's vegetables are now being exported abroad, which makes us proud," he added.

Abdul Halim, UP member of Bamundia ward under Kharnia Union of the upazila, said the agriculture department is regularly supporting farmers with fertilizers, seeds, training and technical advice.

"As a result, bumper production is being achieved. With toxin-free vegetables now being exported, Dumuria has become a model for the country," he said.

Mohiuddin Mallick, a farmer of Ashashuni Upazila of Satkhira said, "We become very happy as bumper winter vegetables were produced and farmers are earning a satisfactory profit."

Kazi Rafiqul Islam of Lohagora Upazila in Narail told BSS, harvesting of winter vegetable is nearly complete.

"We are already selling it in different kitchen markets of Dhaka and other districts. Farmers are getting a fair price and earning profits, which makes them very happy."

The Khulna DAE zone shows that over 7, 14,707 tonnes of winter vegetables have been produced in 30,365 hectares of lands, 23.54 tonnes per hectare of land, during this season.

In Khulna, 1, 76, 2022 tonnes yield of winter vegetables were produced in 8,335 hectares of lands, 21.14 tonnes produce per hectare, In Bagerhat, 2, 51,252 tonnes yield were produced in 9,200 hectares of lands, 27.31 tonnes produce per hectare, In Satkhira, 2, 13,180 tonnes yield were produced in 9,690 hectares of lands, 22.0 tonnes produce per hectare, and in Narail, 74,073 tonnes yield were produced in 3,140 hectares of lands, 23.59 tonnes produce per hectare.

For the 2025-26 season, the DAE has targeted production of 7, 29,305 tonnes of vegetables, from 30,011 hectares of land, an average yield of 23.58 tonnes per hectare.

Talking to BSS, Additional Director of the Department of Agriculture, Khulna Zone, Md Rafiqul Islam, said that Khulna's vegetables meet local demand and are delivered directly to Dhaka and other parts of the country.

"Good prices have brought smiles to farmers' faces. After meeting local demand, vegetables from here are supplied directly to Dhaka and exported to Italy, England and South Korea.

This season, the value of winter vegetable production in Khulna Agri zone stands at around Tk 2,858.83 crore, an average of Tk 40 per kg of vegetable," he added.

"On behalf of the DAE, we occasionally provide fertilizers, seeds and training to poor farmers," he said, adding that two-thirds of vegetable harvesting has already been completed and the remaining would be completed by the first week of December.