Winter veg farming gets underway in Rangpur region

RANGPUR: Responding to the call of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to bring every inch of land under crop farming, enthusiastic farmers have begun cultivation of winter vegetables on their croplands and homesteads in Rangpur agriculture region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said steps have been taken to inspire farmers and rural people in cultivating vegetables on their croplands, fallow lands and homesteads to enhance crop production.

"A production target of 9,61,170 tonnes of winter vegetables has been fixed from 40,470 hectares of land for the region during this current Rabi season," said Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Mohammad Shah Alam.

Farmers have already brought 2,000 hectares of land under cultivation of early varieties of winter vegetables in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram districts of the region.

Sowing of winter vegetable seeds continues in the region where rural people, including women, are also cultivating vegetables on their homesteads, nearby abandoned and fallow lands.

"Following the call of the Prime Minister to enhance food production in the wake of global crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine War, farmers are cultivating vegetables with huge enthusiasm," Alam said.

Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Md. Mahbubar Rahman said farmers are showing interest in farming winter vegetables after getting repeated bumper productions with fair prices in recent years.