The country’s agricultural economics is witnessing extraordinarily good growth this year as early varieties of winter vegetables and huge quantities of fish are appearing in markets in abundance making farmers happy.
Despite the floods, heavy rains and various adversities, the fear of less yield is over after satisfactory harvest.
Farmers are also satisfied with the high price of paddy. Moreover, the price of winter vegetables is also quite good. As a result, the rural agricultural economy has been revitalized.
It was learned that farmers are busy harvesting new paddy as well as winter crops. Many rural people are also using their yards to cultivate winter vegetables. Meanwhile, different species of fish are being caught as flood waters recede.
Fishermen are also happy to get a lot of local fishes including koi, magur, shing, tengra, puti, mala, shoal, boal, veda, baim, shrimp, taki, chapila, aire, pabda and chanda. It is learned that there has been a lot of rain this season increasing water in canals, beels and rivers. As a result, a lot of local fish are being caught across the country.
Based on different district correspondents’ news, it is learned that despite the corona pandemic and other natural disasters, farmers are getting good yields from their hard work. At the same time, the government's food friendly initiatives are helping them to get fair prices for their crops.
In Chattogram, due to the benevolence of nature, the cultivation and yield of the main crop Aman, Rabi and other crops have been increasing. Sudden rainfall during drought has helped the farmers to get better production of Aman, while irrigation based Boro harvesting cost has reduced. At the same time, the rainfall has been a blessing for winter vegetables.
On the other hand, in the hill tracts, 30 tea gardens and dozens of rubber plantations in the highlands are fresh with adequate rainfall. Cotton cultivation is expanding in Rangamati. There is a flurry of fresh local fruits including oranges and maltas in the hills of Chattogram region. Until now, 400 metric tons of vegetables have been exported to the Middle East in the current financial year.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Additional Director of Chattogram Region, Manjurul Huda said that the planting and yield of all types of crops, including paddy, is increasing in the five districts of the region. This time aman has been planted in a maximum of 572,486 hectares of land. Preparations are underway for boro cultivation on a maximum of 235,000 hectares.
After the last several years, this time the farmers are happy with the price of paddy. Farmers of Sharsha upazila of Jashore said that this time they are able to sell paddy at Tk 1,030 to Tk 1,250. Jashore region which is also known as vegetable zone has brought smiles to the faces of all farmers. Vegetable farmers said they had sold beans at up to Tk 150 per kg. Farmers also got good prices for flowers. There is a multidimensionality of agricultural economy in this region. Despite the decline in industry and trade due to the corona, agriculture has been very strong since the beginning.
Based on the farmers’ statements, it was also learned that people who have earlier left this profession are returning back to the field.
Meanwhile in Noakhali, Rajshahi, and Barishal, bumper yield is expected. Fertilizers and pesticides have been applied at the right time on the advice of the local agriculture department. As a result, the production cost has come down a bit compared to that in other years. On the other hand, per maund paddy is being sold at Tk 100 more than that of last year. In this way, the farmers are making up for the losses of the past.
Due to early yield of winter vegetables, farmers of these regions are very much happy with their production and price. Cauliflower, cabbages are selling at Tk 70 to Tk 80, carrots at Tk 80 per kg. However, price is now falling as winter vegetables are arriving aplenty.
Similar information was collected from Bogra, Khulna, Mymensingh, Dinajpur, Kushtia, Rangpur and other regions. Advanced winter vegetables besides Aman paddy production has made farmers happier compared to last year. As production and price both are satisfactory, farmers are now harvesting crops in more land.
DAE information showed, this time the low-lying areas of some parts of the country were flooded due to excessive rains, but the water did not stagnate. Rather this water has come to be more beneficial to paddy harvesting.
Food ministry secretary, Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum told Bangladesh Post, "There was a fear that we may not get our estimated production this year due to the pandemic outbreak and other natural calamities. But overcoming all the fears now we can say our production is satisfactory. We can ensure our food security".
Due to the developed communication system, farmers are able to transport their products easily from field to different wholesale markets across the country.
