Farmers in Birganj upazila of Dinajpur are busy with early-variety cauliflower. The upazila agriculture office says the season's cauliflower target is 593 hectares, of which 170 hectares have already been planted with early cauliflower, compared with only 92 hectares at the same time last year.

Across the upazila's fields farmers are irrigating regularly, applying balanced fertiliser and weeding. The main varieties are Ratna or Ratnasha (a 45-day variety), White Marble and Ninja.

Rahim Uddin, a farmer in Dolua, said his field is in good shape and, if the weather holds, the cauliflower can go to market within 20 to 22 days, with good prices expected.

Abdul Jabbar of the 25 Mile area has put early cauliflower on four bighas with extra labour and cost. Local farmers say vegetables that reach the market before the usual time earn more, which is why they are turning to early planting.

Upazila agriculture officer Mohammad Shariful Islam said sub-assistant agriculture officers are giving farmers regular technical advice on fertiliser, irrigation and pest management, and the overall condition of the fields is satisfactory. A good yield is expected to pay farmers well and widen early vegetable growing in the area.

This report is based on information from Dhaka Tribune's Dinajpur correspondent Faruk Hossain.

Source: Dhaka Tribune