Rangpur: The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set an ambitious target to produce over 11,19,893 tonnes of winter vegetables from 42,130 hectares of land for the Rangpur agricultural region during the 2025-2026 Rabi season. This target reflects an increase from the previous 2024-2025 Rabi season, where farmers in the region harvested 10,39,699 tonnes of winter vegetables from 39,742 hectares.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government has implemented several initiatives to support this intensive winter vegetable farming program in Rangpur. These measures include the provision of special incentives, quality seeds, and fertilizers to farmers. Various organizations, including the DAE, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation, will supply essential resources and technical assistance to facilitate successful cultivation. Additionally, commercial banks such as Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and some NGOs are providing easy-term agriculture loans to boost the program’s success.
Agriculturist Md Sirajul Islam, Additional Director of the DAE for the Rangpur region, noted that farmers are increasingly interested in cultivating winter vegetables on more land due to previous successful harvests and favorable market prices. He stated that farmers have already begun sowing seeds on 5,565 hectares after the harvest of short-duration Aman rice, with expectations to start harvesting early varieties next month for greater profit.
The farming of winter vegetables is anticipated to gain full momentum as traditional varieties of Aman rice continue to be harvested from the third week of November. Md Mamunur Rashid, a PhD Fellow in the Department of Agricultural Extension at Dinajpur Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology, remarked that more land is expected to be utilized for winter vegetable cultivation this season. Early farming has already commenced in low-lying and char areas due to the recession of floodwaters, leading to early market availability of some winter vegetable varieties.
Farmers from various villages, including Ranipukur in Rangpur and Satvita and Noyagram in Kurigram, have already sowed seeds for early winter vegetables following the Aman rice harvest. They anticipate the commencement of early-season vegetable harvesting by the third week of November, aiming for increased profitability.