In Tangail, farmers are busy now cultivating and tending to early winter vegetables. With the new season underway, many are opting to grow early varieties of winter crops in hopes of fetching higher prices by reaching the market ahead of peak season supply.
Typically, winter vegetables enter the market between November and January. However, during that time, supply often exceeds demand, leading to lower market prices. To counter this, farmers have begun cultivation as early as September, focusing on high and arable land to maximise their yields and profits.
A recent visit to several upazilas—Madhupur, Ghatail, Sakhipur, Gopalpur, Bhuapur, Kalihati, and Tangail Sadar—revealed farmers working diligently in the fields. Popular crops being planted include hyacinth beans, radish, cauliflower, cabbage, aubergine, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, red amaranth, and spinach.
In Majid Chala village of Madhupur upazila, farmer Billal Hossain was seen receiving guidance from Shahidul Islam, an agriculture officer, on how best to plant cauliflower.
According to the local agriculture office, for successful cauliflower cultivation, seeds should be sown between mid-August and mid-October. The saplings, aged 30–35 days, are then transplanted between mid-November and December. The ideal land is fertile, sunny, and has good drainage.
Spacing is crucial, with 60 cm between rows and 40 cm between plants. In addition to 250–300 kg of urea per hectare, TSP, MOP, gypsum, and boron fertilisers are recommended. Irrigation is essential if the soil lacks moisture, and weeds must be controlled regularly. With proper care, cauliflowers are usually ready for harvest within 60–70 days.
Farmer Billal Hossain, who planted 9,000 hybrid cauliflower saplings on two bighas of land, is optimistic about a good yield, provided the weather remains favourable. Similarly, Abdul Jabbar Miah from Ghatail’s Jorodighi village planted 16,000 cauliflower plants and some beans across four bighas, hoping for strong returns.
Ashik Parvez, Deputy Director of the Tangail Department of Agricultural Extension, said that this season's target is 1,145 hectares of winter vegetables, expected to yield around 27,480 metric tonnes. "Farmers are increasingly turning to early cultivation for higher profits," he added.
