45 Villages in Bogra
<i>Early farming of winter veg brings big bucks</i>
Over 20 categories of vegetables are abundant in local markets of Bogra as farmers of 45 villages in five upazilas of the district grow early winter vegetables, which are transported to different areas across the country. This photo was taken from Mahasthangarh Bazar a few days ago.Photo: STAR
Luck has smiled on the farmers at 45 villages in five upazilas of the district because of early cultivation of winter vegetables. The vegetables include cauliflower, cabbage, radish, carrot, turnip, tomato, leafy spinach, red spinach and bottle gourd. About 11,000 hectares of land have been brought under vegetables cultivation in five upazilas of the district, said an official of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). Agriculture officer Mamunur Rashid of DAE said over 20 categories of vegetables are cultivated in Shibganj, Sadar, Gabtoli, Kahaloo and Nandigram upazilas. The vegetables are largely being transported to Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Khulna from Mohasthan Garh, the largest wholesale vegetable market in the northern part of the country, he added. Expressing happiness, growers said they are getting better prices at the beginning of the season. Farmer Asharat Ali, 40, said that they spent about Tk 10,000 for cultivating different winter vegetables besides spices, brinjal, gourd and pumpkin. "We hope to earn a good profit”, he said. Shafiqul Alam, 54, of Gokul area in Sadar upazila, said he spent Tk 800 for farming cauliflower on each decimal of his land and got about two maunds of cauliflower. “In the wholesale market, the price of cauliflower is Tk 1200 to 1400 per maund. Farmers are making a profit of about Tk 400-600 from each decimal, he added. Vegetable trader Rabiul Islam, 42, said, he earned over Tk 800 by selling 1000 pieces of bottle gourd. Azim Uddin, 46, a trader from Chittagong, said he paid Tk about 1500 for buying 100 pieces of gourds and expected to earn around Tk 2000 by selling those at Halishahar Bazaar in the port city. Md. Bazlur Rashid Raja, deputy director of DAE, Bogra, said good fortune smiled on the farmers in the areas due to bumper production of winter vegetables earlier than many other places in the country. "We are trying to give all-out supports to the farmers for growing better vegetables," he said. “We have taken a few steps for the farmers, such as, modification training, exchange of ideas on better farming and awareness tour,” said the official.
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