Rajshahi: Grassroots farmers in the Rajshahi district are cultivating and producing around 12 types of crops and vegetables in the char (shoal) areas of the river Padma almost year-round, excluding the rainy season. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, after the floodwaters recede from the wetlands, farmers begin agricultural activities on approximately 14,853 hectares of land across 14 char areas under Godagari, Paba, Charghat, and Bagha upazilas. The farmers remain engaged in productive work for more than nine months each year. Umme Salama, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension, noted that most farmers in these char areas are now profiting from a bumper production of winter vegetables, including several high-value crops. The shift towards large-scale commercial vegetable farming has allowed many farmers to overcome financial hardships, creating a silent revolution in the region. During visits to some of the remotest and hard-to-reach areas, reporters witnessed the success of farm ers cultivating crops such as cauliflower, cabbage, potato, brinjal, bottle gourd, tomato, and onion. Nazib Uddin, a farmer from Char Mazar diar, shared that he has cultivated peas on 10 bighas of land in the Padma char. After investing Taka 75,000 in the cultivation, he expressed optimism about profiting from the sale of his produce due to the good yield this year. Swapan Ali, another farmer from the same village, has become a notable figure in local vegetable cultivation, earning an annual income of around Taka three to four lakh on average. Mozahar Hossain, a farmer from Bazubagha Natunpara village, expressed hope for a bumper wheat yield in the upcoming harvesting season after cultivating on five bighas of land. The favourable climatic conditions have encouraged farmers to expand their vegetable cultivation beyond homestead gardening this year. Surplus produce is being supplied to different parts of the country, including Dhaka, after meeting local demand, benefiting consumers nationwide. Muslem Uddin, a farmer from the same village, shared his success, having earned Taka 80,000 from cauliflower and cabbage sales after spending Taka 30,000 on cultivation. Farmers like Ajer Ali, Mohsin Ali, and Abdul Mannan from Amadpur village have also reported similar success. Hundreds of farmers in the region are pleased with the opportunities presented by the alluvial silt deposits in the char areas, which have enabled them to cultivate various crops and vegetables. Shamsul Wadud, an additional director at the Department of Agriculture Extension, highlighted the significant increase in both acreage and production of various vegetables, including cauliflower, cabbage, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, cucumber, and ladies' finger, in the riverbed area over recent years. This increase has benefitted consumers, with an abundance of winter vegetables now available in local markets, and yield rates surpassing targets due to early farming. Farmers are embracing homestead gardening, utilizing improved technologies and modern far ming methods to enhance vegetable output. Emphasis is being placed on increasing high-yielding seeds and saplings production through farmer-level extension and application of high-yielding varieties. Dr. Ilias Hossain, Principal Scientific Officer of the Regional Wheat and Maize Research Institute, acknowledged the success of many farmers in wheat and maize farming in char lands through the effective use of modern technologies.
