United News of Bangladesh

Small and marginal farmers in Sirajganj are increasingly turning to early winter cucumber cultivation, expecting a bumper harvest and better profits as hybrid varieties have already started arriving in local markets with encouraging prices. Farmers across the district, particularly in the riverine char areas along the Jamuna, have begun cultivating local and hybrid varieties of cucumber during the Kharif-II season. With production costs relatively low and market prices favourable, many growers are optimistic about earning good returns this year. According to agricultural sources, a target has been set to cultivate early winter cucumbers on around 300 hectares of land across nine upazilas of the district. Farmers have already planted seeds on nearly 200 hectares, with sowing expected to be completed by the first week of November. The crop is being cultivated extensively in Ullapara, Tarash and Raiganj, known for their agricultural production, as well as in Kamarkhand, Kazipur and Sirajganj Sadar. Farmers have also started growing cucumbers on char lands and along rivers, canals, wetlands, homesteads, pond banks and other fallow plots. In the Jamuna basin, farmers in Chauhali, Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Kazipur and Sirajganj Sadar began planting early cucumbers nearly two months ago. Hybrid cucumbers grown in these areas have already started reaching the markets, bringing relief and renewed optimism to growers. The cucumbers are currently selling at Tk 60 to Tk 80 per kilogram on average, making early cultivation particularly attractive to farmers. Traders are purchasing the produce directly from growers and supplying it to Dhaka and other parts of the country. Farmers say the combination of relatively low cultivation costs and good market prices has encouraged them to expand cucumber farming. Many now expect early winter hybrid varieties to generate higher profits than other seasonal crops. Women are also playing an important role in tending cucumber fields, contributing to crop care and cultivation in different parts of the district. Agricultural officials said char areas have traditionally produced good yields of early hybrid cucumbers, and they expect the trend to continue this season. Jerin Ahmed, additional deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said farmers had been receiving advice on early winter cucumber cultivation, as in previous years. She said cultivation was particularly widespread in Tarash, Raiganj and Ullapara, including areas of the Chalan Beel region, as well as in various char areas across the district. Ahmed added that fresh hybrid cucumbers had already begun entering local markets and farmers were pleased with the prices they were receiving. With cultivation expanding and early produce fetching encouraging prices, growers are hopeful that the season will bring a bumper harvest and improve their livelihoods.