A dewy morning heralds the arrival of winter. Even though winter has not started early, farmers are busy cultivating winter vegetables from the crowing dawn. Some are tending the vegetable fields and some are picking vegetables to take them to market. At the same time, the bazaar of Bogura has accumulated vegetables for sale. Mahasthan, the largest vegetable market in the North, is stocked with winter vegetables including early varieties. Every day from morning to afternoon, this market is crowded with buyers and sellers.
The vegetables produced in Bogura are in demand all over the country as they are fresh and of good quality. Bogura vegetables are going to different parts of the country to meet the demand of the district. However, there is a mixed reaction to the price as the cost of production is high despite the good yield.
In Sarojmin, Friday was seen at Mahasthan Haat, the largest wholesale haat in the north, selling a variety of vegetables including cauliflower, papaya, beans, cabbage, brinjal, radish, gourd, leaf onion, bitter gourd. Farmers from different areas including local farmers came with their vegetables. There are also buyers from different areas. Many people buy from here to the city market, some to nearby markets and some to the capital Dhaka, Chittagong, Feni and other districts. Radish imports are high, so the price is a little lower, 400 to 600 taka per maund. Cauliflower Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg, cabbage and gourd Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg, beans Tk 50 to Tk 60, sweet gourd Tk 12 to Tk 20 per kg, raw chilli Tk 25 to Tk 35, brinjal Tk 15 to Tk per kg, bitter gourd Tk 35 to Tk 50 and Leaf onions are being sold at Tk 45 to Tk 50 per kg.
However, the production cost of vegetables has increased, so even if the production is good, even if the market price is good, the profit is decreasing as before, the farmers said. Bajlur Rahman, a cabbage farmer of Shibganj, Harunur Rashi, a cauliflower farmer, said that the wages of agricultural workers have increased due to land maintenance, and the prices of pesticides and fertilizers have also increased. So even if you get a good price in the market, the amount of profit is less.
Besides, if the import is high, the price in the market also decreases that day. If the market price is stable then the farmers would be more profitable.
Meanwhile, Bogura vegetables are appreciated in different parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, because of their freshness and quality. Wholesale buyers are sending vegetables to different places by truck every day. Eidul Hasan, a businessman of Chittagong, Raju Ahmed said that vegetables are available all year round at Bogura's Mahasthan Market. The vegetables here are of good quality, so there is a demand everywhere.
According to the Directorate of Agricultural Extension, farmers produce 42 types of vegetables including different types of vegetables throughout the year in Bogura, which is known as a vegetable store. 4.5 million tons of vegetables are cultivated on 20 thousand hectares of land every year.
This time the target is 3.5 lakh 5 thousand metric tons on 13 thousand hectares of land in the winter season. From October 16 to March 15, winter vegetables are available in farmers' markets and bazaars. Most vegetables are grown in Sadar, Shibganj, Charanchal of Sariakandi, Gabtali and Shajahanpur upazilas.
Directorate of Agriculture Extension Bogura Additional Deputy Director (Cereals) Md. Enamul Haque said that the amount of vegetable production has increased in the past few years in Bogura district, which is known as a storehouse of vegetables. Agriculture officials are always by the farmer's side to help farmers produce more by keeping them informed about modern technology. This agriculture official said that the production of vegetables will be more than the target.
