Early winter vegetable farming has grown in Thakurgaon, and within a month the district's markets are expected to be full of new-season produce. Farmers and the agriculture department hope for a bumper crop and good profits if the weather stays favourable, and growers are busy tending their fields and controlling pests and diseases.

Farmers in Nargun, Jagannathpur and Begunbari in Sadar upazila, areas known as the district's vegetable villages, have again planted large quantities. Radish, cauliflower, cabbage, beans, bottle gourd, tomato, red amaranth and other vegetables are being grown across the district, and the fields are a sea of green. Unemployed young people have turned to vegetable farming instead of looking for jobs. Besides Sadar, large areas have also been planted in Ruhia, Pirganj, Baliadangi, Ranishankail and Haripur.

Amjad Ali, Faridul Islam and Rahmat Ali, farmers in Nargun union of Sadar upazila, said Nargun grows more vegetables than anywhere else in the district. With favourable weather, good yields and strong demand in the market, farmers there are optimistic about prices.

Shahinur, Aftab Uddin Mollah, Rafiqul Islam and other farmers of Begunbari village said that winter vegetables were still scarce but the region's markets would be full within a month or so. Consumers will pay somewhat more for the new vegetables, and the farmers said they expected a good harvest and a profit. Local labourers are also pleased to have assured work and fair wages.

According to the district agriculture department, early winter vegetables have been planted on 12,850 hectares this season, with production expected to reach 187,000 tonnes. Last winter they were grown on 9,650 hectares, yielding 124,329 tonnes. The department and farmers expect the area to grow further.

Md Abu Hossain, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Thakurgaon, said the region's vegetables meet local demand and are sent to Dhaka, Sylhet, Chattogram, Barishal and to various countries in the Middle East. Field staff are giving farmers technical support and advice. If the weather stays favourable, he said, there will be a bumper harvest this season, and with good demand and prices farmers will again profit from early winter vegetables.

The agriculture department, farmers and traders want vegetable storage centres to be set up and bank loans on easy terms, saying that with these the region's farmers could play a special role in the area's social and economic development.

Source: BSS. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.