Lalmonirhat: With the onset of winter, the five agriculturally-rich upazilas of Lalmonirhat have become lively with the cultivation and nurturing of winter vegetables. Farmers in Sadar, Aditmari, Kaliganj, Hatibandha, and Patgram upazilas are passing busy days in their vegetable fields. Early varieties of cauliflower, cabbage, radish, red amaranth (lal shak), bitter gourd, cucumber, bottle gourd, bean, tomato, and eggplant have already started reaching local markets. Farmers said that the yield of early vegetables has been good this year, prompting wholesalers to purchase directly from the fields. As a result, growers are getting fair prices and making good profits.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, early winter vegetables have so far been cultivated on about 2,155 hectares of land in the district during the current Rabi season. Officials expect the cultivation area to increase several times more in the coming weeks. The agriculture department has given top priority to producing safe and chemical-free vegetables. Farmers said that quick returns and higher profit margins have increased their interest in vegetable farming. However, they expressed concern that fertilizer shortages and unfavorable weather might pose a threat to yields.
Md Azizul Islam, a farmer from Mahendranagar union in Sadar upazila, mentioned cultivating eggplant and other winter vegetables on two bighas of land, with current market prices being favorable. He emphasized the need for the government to ensure the timely supply of adequate fertilizers. Afzal Hossain and Azim Mia, farmers of Aditmari upazila, highlighted the benefits of using modern methods for early vegetable cultivation, resulting in better yields and high-quality produce.
Majarul Hossain and Zahidul Islam, farmers from the Votmari area of Kaliganj upazila, noted their long-standing practice of growing early varieties of cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, and radish, expecting good prices this season. Abdul Hakim, a bean grower from Borobari union in Sadar upazila, shared his cultivation costs and potential profits, expressing optimism about the season's prospects.
Dr Md Saikhul Arifin, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat, stated that the soil and climate conditions are conducive for vegetable cultivation, enabling early winter vegetable production. The successful early harvest has already allowed many farmers to sell their produce at profitable prices. Local agriculture officials expressed hope that as the supply of early winter vegetables increases, consumers will also benefit from accessing fresh produce at fair prices.