A partial view of a cabbage field at a village in Jashore district — FE Photo BENAOLE, Dec 02: Vegetable farmers in six districts of Jashore agricultural region have seen their hopes shuttered this winter season for various factors, including absence of heavy rainfall, storms, widespread attack of insects and outbreak of diseases.
Still now the farmers are growing winter vegetables with relentless efforts, expecting that these will elevate their economic and social status to some extent.
This is what officials of the local Department of Agricultural Extension think about them.
Talking to vegetable farmers of Bandabila, Khajura, Nimta, Kotrakandi and surrounding areas of Bagharpara, Jashore, it was known that beans, cauliflower, cabbage, radish, and other winter vegetables such as spinach, gourd etc have started yielding well but due to unfavorable weather, their production target may not be met.
Farmers Mohammad Ali, Momrez Sheikh and Anand Mohan said one and a half months ago, they started planting winter vegetables. Many have already started growing all kinds of vegetables. The prices in the market were also quite good.
But all their hopes have been dashed by widespread attacks of insects and outbreak of diseases. It will be very difficult to recover the production cost in the present situation.
The production target was set at 12.37 lakh tonnes of vegetables from total 52,793 hectares of land this season estimating 23.44 tonnes per hectare.
Of the total, vegetables were cultivated on 17, 500 hectares of land in Jashore district, on 123,063 hectares in Jhenaidah, 30639 hectares in Magura, 6650 hectares in Kushtia, 8410 hectares in Chuadanga and the department set a target to cultivate vegetables on 41, 910 hectares of land in Meherpur.
Abu Hossain, additional director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Jashore region said farmers of Jashore, Jhenaidah, Magura, Chuadanga and Meherpur have always played a significant role in vegetable cultivation.
Since vegetables are available at fair prices throughout the year, farmers of Jashore region are also interested to increase cultivation for their socio-economic development.
Vegetable cultivation could exceed the target if weather remains favourable, he said.
Abu Hossain said all the field level officers have been instructed to give all their advice and support to the farmers of Jashore region.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
