Sylhet farmers busy cultivating winter vegetables:Chances of achieving target

S A Shofiee,Sylhet :

Due to favorable weather conditions, interest among farmers in cultivating vegetables is increasing in Sylhet this year. Since vegetable cultivation is more profitable, vegetables are now being cultivated even in relatively low-lying lands. Farmers in this district are busy cultivating winter advance vegetables at the beginning of the Rabi season. In the meantime, farmers have started cultivating various vegetables including red cabbage, gourd, brinjal, beans, radish, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato, faras, radish and cucumber. The farmers here hope to market these vegetables after three to four weeks.

During the on-site inspection, it was seen that farmers from three unions of South Surma, which are fertile for vegetable production in Sylhet, farmers from Tetoli, Kamalbazar and Mollargaon areas are planting and tending various types of vegetables including beans and tomatoes in their lands. Like every year, they are spending their time busy cultivating vegetables. Farmers say they are now cultivating vegetables all year round. Preparations are being made for winter vegetable cultivation in view of the upcoming winter. However, the prices of vegetables are good in the market at the beginning of winter. Many farmers cultivate in advance, taking this as a target. After research, it was learned that due to the favorable weather this year, winter vegetables will emerge from the fields within a few weeks. This is the dream of farmers to have more profits and bumper yields.

Abdul Jabbar, a farmer from Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet, said that the prices of vegetables in the Rabi season are highest in the beginning of winter. If you can sell the vegetables in the first consignment, there is no worry of loss. At that time, wholesale traders also roam the fields to buy vegetables. That is why he has been trying to cultivate French radish, radish, cauliflower and cabbage in advance for the last two years. In this case, along with the additional care of the plantation, the risk is also higher. However, since it is profitable, the amount of advance cultivation is also increasing compared to other times. He also said that he has about 40 bighas of tomatoes this time. If he can make it suitable for sale at the beginning of winter, he will make good profit.

He said that if he can cultivate winter vegetable crops in advance and maintain them properly, he can make good profit. According to the Sylhet Department of Agricultural Extension, vegetable cultivation in the Rabi season originally started from October 15. However, many farmers have been reducing this time for the past few years.

This time, vegetable cultivation in the Rabi season has started in mid-September. The target for vegetable production in the Rabi season has been set on 39,150 hectares of land.

Which will exceed the target by mid-October. And last year’s achievement in Sylhet was 38,500 hectares.

Golapganj Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Mashreful Alam said during the conversation,The target for winter vegetable cultivation in the Rabi season in Golapganj Upazila in the 2025-26 fiscal year has been set at 2,820 hectares. So far, 1346 hectares have been achieved. Farmers are still planting vegetables. This upazila has always been famous for vegetable cultivation. The SIM here is widely appreciated in the country and abroad.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Sylhet Agriculturists Md Shamsuzzaman said that the interest of Sylhet farmers in winter vegetable cultivation during the Rabi season is always high. The number of vegetable farmers in the district is increasing day by day. Government-sponsored seeds and fertilizers have been distributed among the farmers of the district. As a result, the farmers have come forward with interest in vegetable cultivation.