Dinajpur:Farmers in Dinajpur Sadar upazila are actively engaged in cultivating early winter vegetables, utilizing modern farming techniques to bring their produce to market ahead of the peak season. This strategic move aims to capitalize on higher prices before the market becomes saturated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adoption of early cultivation methods is widespread across all 13 upazilas of Dinajpur district, known as the country's granary. Farmers are preparing elevated plots and planting vegetables early, with some varieties already reaching the market and fetching good prices.
In villages such as Noshipur Karnai, Golapganj, Sundarban, Fazilpur, and Auliapur, farmers are busy tending to their crops and ensuring proper drainage to protect against untimely rainfall. Md Anisuzzaman from the Department of Agricultural Extension noted that winter vegetables typically flood the markets between November and January, often resulting in lower prices for farmers. However, early planting allows them to benefit from higher demand and prices at the season's start.
Rafiqul Islam, a farmer from Karnai village, has planted a variety of vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant, radish, and tomato on 60 decimals of land. He emphasized the importance of drainage systems to mitigate the risks posed by excess rainwater. Rafiqul anticipates harvesting within 10 to 15 days and aims to sell his produce when prices are most favorable.
Abdur Razzak from Ulipur village shared that early winter vegetable cultivation has been beneficial over the years, thanks to reduced labor and production costs achieved through modern farming methods. Saif Abdullah Mostafin, an agriculture officer, highlighted the profitability of early cultivation, encouraging more farmers to adopt this practice. He added that surplus produce from the area is distributed to different districts.
Md Afzal Hossain from the DAE mentioned that Dinajpur has set a goal to cultivate vegetables on 27,350 hectares this season, with 7,250 hectares dedicated to early varieties. The district also plans to cultivate potatoes on 36,250 hectares, with modern agricultural methods increasingly being adopted to enhance crop production.