Although the feel of winter has not fully arrived, intense activity around early winter vegetable cultivation has begun across the fields of Ghior in Manikganj. Local farmers are working day and night in the hope of bringing vegetables to market at the start of the season, selling them at high prices and earning extra profit.
Visits to agricultural fields in Baratia, Poyla, Singjuri, Baniajuri and Baliakhora unions of the upazila showed a festive atmosphere. From dawn to dusk, land preparation, seedling planting and intensive care are in full swing. One field after another is filling with high-demand vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, eggplant, bitter gourd, korola and beans. Flowers and fruit have already begun appearing in many fields. If the weather remains favorable, supplies of these early vegetables to local markets and the capital will begin within the next one to one and a half weeks.
According to sources at the upazila agriculture office, a target has been set this season to cultivate different varieties of winter vegetables on 3 thousand 260 hectares of land in Ghior upazila.
Karim, a farmer from Bailot village in the upazila, said, “Because floodwater did not enter the land this year, I was able to cultivate eggplant well before the scheduled time. If I can bring the crop to market at the right time, I will see good profit.”
But worries are also following the growers alongside their hopes. Farmers Barek, Moynal and Majnu of Baliakhora village said early vegetable cultivation offers a major opportunity for profit, but the risk is very high. Sudden excessive rain or attacks by pests and diseases can destroy their dreams in moments. In addition, production costs are much higher this year because fertilizer, seed, pesticide and labor wages have increased. If supply suddenly rises in the market at the same time, uncertainty also emerges over getting fair prices. As a result, they strongly demanded strict government monitoring of timely agricultural input supply and market management.
Ghior Upazila Agriculture Officer Tahmina Khatun said, “If the environment remains favorable and pests and diseases are kept under control, the achieved target will be exceeded this time. Along with providing farmers with necessary technical support at field level, we are regularly advising them on producing safe and poison-free vegetables.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report