The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter, Sirajganj

Bumper production of the winter vegetables is being expected everywhere in the 16 Northern Districts under Rajshahi Division during the Rabi crop season. All kinds of winter vegetables have now appeared in abundance in the local markets and the yield rate achieved so far are found to be higher than that of the target due to early farming of all kinds of vegetables. Department of Agriculture Extension source said.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has fixed an average yield rate of all varieties winter vegetables to 16 tonnes per hectare this time, the sources said. Following the programme, a total of 18,52,616 tonnes different varieties of vegetables will be produced in 123516 huctates in al 16 districts under Rajshahi Division this season.

Under the programme, Sirajganj 6500 hectare, in Natore 9500 hectare, in Rajshahi 7500 hectare in Chapainawabganj 1600 hectares, in Pabna. 8500 hectares, in Bogra 5000 hectares will be cultivted for winter vegetables in Joypurhat-districts under Rajshahi Agriculture Zone, the DAE sources said.

Apart from this, 8000 hectares of land were brought under winter vegetables in Rangpur, 6000 hectares each in Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Kurigram and Thakurgaon, 500 hectares in Lalmonirhat, 10000 hectares in Dinajpur and 4000 hectares in Panchagarh districts under Rangpur Agriculture Zone. While talking to the New Nation, the DAE said Bangladesh Agriculture Research institute, Bangl-adesh Agriculture Development Corporation and many NGOs have been supplying adequate quality seeds, other agro inputs and providing necessary technical assistance to the farmers for making the cultivation a total success.

On the other hand, Additional Director of DAE Abul Basher told the New Nation that emphasis is being given on increasing production of high yielding best seeds and saplings through farmers level extension and application of the high yielding varieties.

Grassroot level farmers are being habituated with homested gardening through establishing projection plot of improved technologies adjacent to the localities for enhancing vegetable output. As a result of this, he said gradening around homesteads in the Barind region is becoming increasingly popular with production of different common fruits and vegetables for own consumption and also to sell the surplus for extra income.

In addition to this, he said, modern technologies are being transferred among the growers level through farmers training, projection plot, field day and different types of campaign so that the farmers could make their cultivation more effective and profitable.

Different commercial banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and other commercial banks, NGOs have been disbursing agriculture loans and interest-free loans among the farmers to make the cultivation of winter vegetables successful.