Bumper summer vegetables production likely in Rangpur region

A super bumper production of summer vegetables is likely in Rangpur agriculture region where the farmers have exceeded the fixed farming target by 10.51 percent this season, official sources said.

Meanwhile, all varieties of summer vegetables have already appeared in plenty now in the local markets with excellent price bringing smile to the farmers everywhere in the region.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed a production target of over 3.09 lakh tonnes summer vegetables from 18,185 hectares of land in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region for the current season.

However, the farmers have cultivated summer vegetables in 20,096 hectares of land, 1,911 hectares or 10.51 percent higher than the fixed target of farming different varieties of summer vegetables in the region.

Under the programme, farmers have cultivated summer vegetables in 6,710 hectares of land in Rangpur, 3,970 hectares in Gaibandha, 2,945 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 2,335 hectares in Nilphamari and 4,136 hectares of land in Kurigram districts in the region.

Talking to BSS, Horticulture specialist Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam of the DAE here predicted bumper production of summer vegetables cultivation of which has been expanding every year in recent times.

"Following large scale farming of vegetables under the changed cropping patterns, most varieties of summer vegetables have now appeared in the local markets and the yield rate achieved so far is excellent," he added.

The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute, Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, banks and NGOs supplied quality seed, agro- inputs, agri-loans and assistance to farmers to make cultivation of summer vegetables successful.

According to market sources, vegetables traders and middlemen have been continuing export of huge quantities of summer vegetables to Dhaka and other parts of the country by trucks from different points in all five districts under the region daily.

Agriculture and Environment Coordinator of RDRS Bangladesh Mamunur Rashid said farmers are showing more interests in cultivating vegetables as many of them have changed fate through farming of both summer and winter vegetables in recent years.

Source: BSS.