Farmers in Bogura are going through a busy time cultivating winter vegetables. Moreover, some farmers are simultaneously harvesting varieties of vegetables to sell them in the market and tending to their fields.
The peak season for winter vegetables is ongoing, and the markets are seeing an ample supply. Bogura is known as the grain basket of Bangladesh. Farmers there cultivate a wide variety of vegetables throughout the year, with a significant increase in production during the winter season.
Many farmers have already earned good profits by cultivating early varieties of vegetables, which will remain available throughout the winter. Due to their high quality, vegetables produced in Bogura are in demand across the country. As a result, farmers are staying occupied with selling the early vegetables and tend to their field for a good harvest of winter vegetables. The favorable market prices have increased farmers' interest in vegetable cultivation, leading to a rise in the total area under cultivation compared to the previous year. Winter vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, pointed gourd, okra, beans, eggplant, radish, and bottle gourd have already reached the markets, creating a vibrant trading scene in Bogura’s markets.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers in Bogura grow 42 types of vegetables, including various leafy greens, on 20,000 hectares of land across the district throughout the year. This exceeds the target and yields more than 400,000 tonnes of vegetables annually. During this season, vegetables are being cultivated on 13,500 hectares of land with a production target exceeding 325,000 tonnes. The winter season, which runs from October 16 to March 15, sees active vegetable farming in all upazilas, including Shibganj, Bogura sadar, and Gabtali.
When this correspondent visited different areas of the district, farmers from different regions talked about various aspects of vegetable cultivation this year. While they have profited from early crop harvesting, the rising costs of pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds have increased production costs, limiting their overall profit margins. Despite this, farmers are focusing on tending their field with the hope of achieving better yields.
Dhulu Pramanik, a farmer from Manikchak in Bogura sadar upazila, said he is earning a good profit by cultivating radishes on 30 decimals of land. He is now cultivating potatoes and hopes to profit from early potato harvesting, although he expressed concerns about the rising costs of seeds and fertilizers.
Fazlur Rahman, a farmer from Chakbochai area in Gabtali upazila, cultivated pointed gourd and beans on the same land. While he saw a good yield of pointed gourd and fetched good prices, he observed that disease affected his bean plants, causing yellowing leaves, which may reduce the harvest.
Hamidul Alam, a farmer from Lahiri Para in Bogura sadar upazila, mentioned that they consistently use high-quality seeds and seedlings. This season, he cultivated cauliflower, cabbage, and radishes, which yielded good results and sold at favorable prices in the market.
When this correspondent visited Mahasthan market on Wednesday, it was seen that cauliflower was selling at Tk 30 to Tk 40 per kilogram, cabbage at Tk 20 to Tk 30 per piece, bottle gourd at Tk 30 to Tk 35 per piece, beans at Tk 70 per kilogram, radish at Tk 18 to Tk 25 per kilogram, eggplant at Tk 35 to Tk 45 per kilogram, pointed gourd at Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kilogram, bitter gourd at Tk 60 to Tk 70 per kilogram, spring onion at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kilogram, and sweet gourd for Tk 40 Tk 45 per kilogram. When transported from Mahasthan to urban areas or other districts, prices increase by Tk 5 to Tk 20 per kilogram. Matlubur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bogura, said that farmers are achieving good yields using high-quality seeds and seedlings, which is making vegetable farming profitable. The agricultural department is continuously providing advice to farmers to help increase their production. Winter vegetable cultivation is in full swing across Bogura.
