Farmers in Kashkhali area in Raozan upazila of Chattogram are making profit from early winter vegetable farming. They are getting a good price for their vegetables in the market.
Sources from upazila Department of Agricultural Extension said hundreds of farmers in Sharif Para, Teua Hazi Para, Cchitia Para, Daspara areas cultivated early variety of winter vegetables including radish, hyacinth beans, eggplant, bottle gourd, red amaranth, spinach, malabar spinach, bitter gourd, long beans, ridge gourd, taro stem, taro root, and elephant foot yam, etc.
It was learnt that farmers in Kashkhali area cultivate vegetables throughout the year. Due to that, this area is known as the granary of Raozan. Every year, winter vegetables worth Tk one crores are produced in this area, which, after meeting the demand in Raozan, are sold outside the upazila as well.
Farmer Abu Taher Boren said I spent Tk 25,000 to cultivate early variety of bottle gourd in 15 decimals of land. Until now, I have sold bottle gourd of Tk 20,000 in the market. I am hoping that I will be able to earn Tk 30,000 more from selling bottle gourds. He was happy about selling early variety of bottle gourd at a good price. Another farmer Mohammad Lokman said he cultivated early variety of winter vegetables in 10 decimals of land with a cost of Tk 20,000. He sold bottle gourd of Tk 30,000 in the local market till now and hoping to earn Tk 20,000 to Tk 30,000 more by selling the vegetables.
Farmer Abdur Shukkur said he cultivated early variety of red amaranth, taro and long beans and sold them in the market. I have to work more to cultivate early vegetables and the cost is higher as well. However, I can make a better profit too by selling vegetables during off-season. So, we cultivate these vegetables.
Raozan Upazila Agriculture Officer Masum Kabir said farmers in Kashkhali area of Raozan are making good profit by cultivating early variety of winter vegetables. The demand for early variety of hyacinth beans, bottle gourd, radish, cauliflower, and cabbage is increasing in the market. The farmers are also happy about selling the vegetables at a good price. The Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers are providing advices to the farmers at field level about early variety of vegetable farming. I hope that it would increase more in the future.
