Meherpur has set a target of 5,250 hectares of winter vegetables this season, the district Department of Agricultural Extension says, and early vegetables are already growing on about 2,000 hectares. Some farmers are already selling early crops, others are preparing land or transplanting seedlings, but labour shortages, rising wages and a fertiliser shortage are adding pressure, BSS reports.
Cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, radish, beans, bitter gourd, potato and leafy greens are being grown across the district. Because seedlings are being planted in stages, agriculture officials expect a steady supply of vegetables through the winter. In Chakshyamnagar, Gobhipur, Buripota, Sholmari and Kathuli in Sadar upazila, farm families and hired workers were busy preparing land, making beds, transplanting, weeding and irrigating.
Sanowar Hossain of Sholmari village has planted early cauliflower and cabbage on three bighas this season. Land preparation, seedlings, irrigation, fertiliser and pesticide cost him about Tk 30,000 to 35,000 a bigha. Rain has cut his irrigation costs somewhat, and he hopes to profit if prices are good.
Golam Mostafa of Manoharpur village had a harder time: heavy rain destroyed his seedbeds twice. The seedlings from his third seedbed are now ready, and he is preparing to grow cauliflower, cabbage and knol-khol on five bighas.
Kazi Shahnewaz, deputy director of the district extension office, said sunny days and cool nights suit early vegetables. Farmers are profiting by bringing early vegetables to market, and they are being given the advice they need, he said.
The agriculture department expects the target to be met if the weather holds and the crops are well tended.
Photo: Peter Forster / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Source: BSS
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