Farmers and crop specialists are expecting bumper production of winter vegetables here as the growers exceeded its cultivation target during the current Rabi season.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said a massive program had been taken to cultivate winter vegetables in all the ten upazilas of the district this season.
Under the program, a target has been designed to produce 1,70,000 tonnes of winter vegetables from 6800 hectares of land.
But, the farmers have already cultivated winter vegetables on 7,208 hectares of land exceeding the fixed farming target.
It is to be mentioned that due to the high silt and mineral rich soil, this region has always produced good quality fruits and vegetable, which is being exported to the other districts of the country. In the previous year, farmers exceeded the record production of vegetable in the area.
This year, they hope to continue the streak and produce more vegetable as Netrakona Department of Agriculture Extension has been helping and guiding the farmers with important updates and farming method to reach top output.
DAE deputy director Mohammad Nuruzzaman said that farmers are showing keen interest for cultivating winter vegetables like cauliflowers, cabbage, bean, cucumber, sweet gourd, bottle gourd, pointed gourd, brinjal, tomato and amaranthus.
The farm lands of the district are suitable for vegetable cultivation and the farmers can earn more cash money easily by selling their produces in the local markets, he said.
The government agricultural officials also inspired the peasants by ensuring proper supply of improved quality seeds, fertilizers and other agri inputs at fair prices at their door-steps through different state–run agencies including BCIC and BADC, he added.
Apart from these, the government distributed vegetable seeds worth about taka 8,60,000 as agriculture incentives among the 8,600 small and marginal farmers of the district.
The field-level officials and crop specialists of DAE have continued informing farmers about modern methods of the vegetable cultivation using latest technologies to reduce production costs.
