Farmers in Ghoraghat upazila of Dinajpur are busy growing different kinds of winter vegetables. Some have already grown early vegetables and started selling them, while others are planting seedlings, tending seedlings already planted or preparing their land.
According to the agriculture department, a target has been set this season to grow various winter vegetables on about 4,000 hectares in Ghoraghat upazila. Farmers are planting in stages to keep vegetable supplies steady in the market through the winter, which will let them sell at different times of the season. Across the upazila, farmers were seen hard at work growing cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, aubergines, radishes, beans and other winter vegetables. Alongside early crops, they are concentrating on land preparation and planting to keep up production through the whole winter season.
Agriculture officials hope the winter vegetable target can be met if the weather is favourable and the crops get the care they need. Day labourers are working alongside farm families on land preparation, planting, weeding, fertilising and irrigation, creating seasonal work locally. But a shortage of workers, higher wages and a shortage of chemical fertiliser are putting extra pressure on farmers.
In the fields of Bharnapara, Bhelamari, Shekhalipara, Kabilpur Satpara, Sreechandra Satpara, Balgari, Kulandapur Rishighat, Koiyapara and Kashigari, farmers were seen busy with vegetables. From morning every day, some plough their land with tractors and harrows, some clear weeds and some make beds.
Jalil of Rameshwarpur village said he grows winter vegetables all year round. From morning until noon he works on preparing the land, and from afternoon until evening some sow seeds while others were seen spraying pesticide on their vegetables.
So far, early vegetables have been planted on about 2,000 hectares in the upazila. The early winter crops planted on this land include potatoes, beans, bitter gourd, cauliflower, cabbage, radish, aubergine, red amaranth, Malabar spinach and spinach, grown in the Kharif-2 season.
Nur Alam of Kashigari village said heavy rain had ruined his seedbeds twice this year. The seedlings from his third seedbed are now ready for transplanting. He has grown bottle gourd, onions, bitter gourd, beans and cucumber on one bigha of land.
Ghoraghat upazila agriculture officer Rafiquzzaman said the current weather, sunny by day and cold at night, is suitable for early vegetables. Farmers are profiting by bringing early crops to market, and they are being given the advice they need, he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report