Rangpur: In recent years, vegetable farming has become a profitable venture to boost the rural economy in the Rangpur agricultural region, as well as for the improvement of the livelihood and fortune of farmers. Many farmers are successfully cultivating vegetables in their farmlands, pastures, and homesteads, earning good profits throughout the year while also meeting their nutritional needs for a better life.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) reported that vegetables are cultivated year-round during the Rabi, Kharif-1, and Kharif-2 seasons, enabling many farmers in the five districts of the region to achieve self-sufficiency. Krishibid Md Sirajul Islam, Additional Director (Incharge) of the DAE's Rangpur region, noted that vegetable cultivation has become a profitable venture by adopting new cropping patterns and the latest technologies in changing climatic conditions.
The initiative is supported by government assistance and easy-to-use agricultural loans. Additionally, some NGOs are providing quality seeds, inputs, and the latest technologies to farmers in the region to increase vegetable production throughout the year. As a result, farmers are experiencing bumper yields and excellent market prices, prompting them to cultivate vegetables on more land in both the mainland and riverine char regions.
During the 2024-2025 Rabi season, farmers produced 1,039,699 tonnes of winter vegetables from 39,742 hectares of land, achieving an excellent average yield rate of 26.16 tonnes per hectare. In the 2025 Kharif-1 season, farmers produced 524,485 tonnes of vegetables from 28,344 hectares, with an average yield rate of 18.50 tonnes per hectare. Similarly, in the 2025 Kharif-2 season, 299,097 tonnes of vegetables were produced from 16,505 hectares, with a yield rate of 18.12 tonnes per hectare.
Krishibid Shirajul Islam highlighted that during the current 2025-2026 Rabi season, the government, through the DAE, has set a target to produce 1,119,893 tonnes of winter vegetables from 42,130 hectares of land in the Rangpur agricultural region. Farmers have already cultivated winter vegetables on about 40,000 hectares, with early varieties being collected on a limited scale. If favourable climatic conditions persist, a bumper production of winter vegetables is expected across Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and Nilphamari districts.
Market sources indicate that vegetable prices have begun to fall with the arrival of early winter varieties in local markets. Farmers like Lutfar Rahman, Abir Hossain, Kamal Hossain, and Solaiman Ali from Mithapukur upazila have achieved self-reliance through vegetable farming. Isahaque Ali from Rangpur Sadar upazila reported that farmers are expanding vegetable cultivation on farmlands and homesteads for greater profits and nourishment.
Retailer Fazlur Rahman from Keranipara Kitchen Market in Rangpur city stated that early winter vegetables are being sold to middlemen and wholesalers at rates between Taka 20 and Taka 70 per kg, varying by variety and quality. However, retail prices in local markets are higher by Taka 10 to Taka 15 per kg on average.