Farmers growing early cabbage in Nongorpur field in Jashore Sadar upazila say virus attacks and recent heavy rain have caused major losses. They also cite higher fertilizer and pesticide prices and production costs, and want more effective field advice on soil testing and disease identification.
Farmer Sayed Ali planted Profit Plus early cabbage on four bighas. He spent Tk 24 thousand to Tk 25 thousand on seed alone, and about Tk 80 thousand to Tk 1 lakh in total on land preparation, planting, fertilizer, pesticides and care. He said virus attacks and adverse weather destroyed the entire crop.
Sayed Ali said he no longer had enough money to plant again and was worried about supporting his family. He said financial help from the government or another institution could help him return to farming. Farmer Ranjan Ahmed said cabbage plants were curling, failing to grow and not developing roots properly, leaving growers unsure how to address the virus and soil problems.
Mohammad Golap Nabi said cabbage on his one-and-a-half bighas was destroyed despite spending on fertilizer, soil tests and other inputs. Farmers Mazahar Biswas, Kamruzzaman and Mohammad Jamir Sardar also reported losses from the weather, virus attacks and rising production costs. They said fertilizer and pesticide expenses were increasing while vegetables did not command fair prices.
Farmer Jahurul said virus attacks destroyed cabbage on his three bighas. He said low vegetable prices and high fertilizer and pesticide costs prevented farmers from recovering production expenses. Farmers said they needed more effective field guidance after soil tests identified problems. They also said fertilizer bought on credit often cost more than the government-set price and sought direct help with soil sampling, disease diagnosis and treatment.
The upazila agriculture office said soil testing was important before growing any crop. Soil was previously tested when bitter gourd was cultivated on about 70 hectares in Nongorpur field, and samples from cabbage fields are now being sent to laboratories. Upazila Agriculture Officer Razia Sultana said cabbage is widely grown in Ichhali, Churamonkati and Haibatpur unions. The target for this season is about 80 hectares across the upazila, including 14 hectares already planted in Ichhali. She said recent heavy rain and waterlogging damaged seedlings on about four bighas in Nongorpur, but farmers could recover by replanting in the dry season if weather conditions improved.
Razia Sultana said Nongorpur field was suitable for cabbage and about 70 hectares were cultivated there last year. Farmers can harvest cabbage up to three consecutive times in a season and profit by selling wholesale directly from the fields when market demand is strong.
The agriculture department said it regularly advises farmers on increasing yields and controlling crop diseases.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report