United News of Bangladesh

The fields are turning green as farmers work from dawn to dusk to grow early varieties of winter vegetables across the northern districts , hoping to recover from last year’s losses and earn a better return this season. Although winter is yet to set in, vegetables traditionally associated with the colder months have already begun appearing in markets. Beans and cabbage are among the early arrivals, while farmers are busy tending fields of cauliflower, radish, cabbage, bottle gourd, tomato, red amaranth, coriander and other winter vegetables. For many farmers, early cultivation is a race against time—and the weather. Producing vegetables before the peak winter season allows them to target higher prices, but it also exposes their crops to unpredictable rainfall, pests and diseases. Despite the risks, the prospect of a good harvest and fair prices is encouraging farmers to expand cultivation across the region. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers in the eight northern districts—Rangpur, Dinajpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh—have set a target of cultivating early winter vegetables on around 33,900 hectares this season. The expected production is around 314,000 tonnes. The region has long been known for its abundant vegetable production, with Rangpur often described as a “vegetable hub”.  

Early winter vegetables have come as blessings for farmers in Sadar upazila of Jashore district, thanks to the favourable weather and timely initiative. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Jashore, this year, a total of 4,323 hectares of land are being used to cultivate early winter vegetables. Of this, 2,432 hectares of land are in Haibatpur union, 1026 hectares in Churamankati union, and 865 hectares in Kashimpur union under Sadar upazila. Farmers have been busy cultivating the vegetables and are making good profit due to the high market price. Vegetable cultivation on Teesta shoals a boon for Lalmonirhat farmers