Rangpur farmers happy over early winter vegetables production

RANGPUR, Oct 13:  Farmers of 8 districts in Rangpur division are getting financially benefited by growing early varieties of winter vegetables on their lands as the crops give them comparatively more profit.

According to sources the farmers of the region have geared up early varieties of winter vegetable farming during the current season with much enthusiasm as they made huge profit last season from the cultivation of the same. The farmers of the division are expected to achieve a good yield of their produces this season as they prefer cultivating vegetables to other crops, sources further said.

While visiting some areas of the region this FE correspondent found the farmers busy taking care of their vegetable fields. The farmers are growing cabbage, cauliflower, gourd, bean, eggplant, cucumber, tomato, carrot, radish etc.

Tota Miah, a farmer of Paschim Madrain village under Gangachara upazila in Rangpur district told The Financial Express that he cultivated cauliflower on 1 bigha of land this season. He has already earned Tk 20,000 by selling his produce and is optimistic of earning more profit during the remaining part of the season.

Proshanta Kumar another farmer of the same village said he has already earned Tk 25,000 by growing eggplants on 1 acre of land and is hopeful of getting more profit from it.

"I cultivated vegetables on my farmlands this year instead of Aman paddy as the low price of the paddy disheartened me last year," he added.

Jagodis Chandra of Changmari village said that he earned Tk 15,000 by growing cabbage on his 45 decimals of land and is hopeful of making more profit.

"It was difficult for me to afford the expenses of my family by growing rice only; but vegetable farming is now giving me adequate profit to ease my financial constraints," he also said.

Traders from across the country are purchasing the vegetables and transporting those to their respective areas. Everyday a good number of trucks laden with vegetables leave the markets of the region for different destinations across the country, sources said

Deputy Director of DAE Rangpur, Zulfikar Haidar said, the soil of many areas of the region is suitable for vegetable cultivation and as a result the farmers are showing more interest in cultivating early winter vegetables on their lands than the cultivation of paddy, he added.

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