Saiful Islam, 45, of Fulbari village under Godagari upazila in the district has set a bright example through farming and producing of advanced cabbage applying improved, modern and technology-based methods.
He began vegetable farming on 2.5 bigha of land in 2013 after following instruction and suggestions given by the field level officers of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).
Since then Islam has been continuing its success in terms of ensuring safe, nutritious and fresh vegetables.
At present, the wholesalers are seen purchasing the newly harvested cabbage from this land directly and taking those to different markets, including Dhaka.
In addition to cabbage, Islam has been cultivating various other vegetables, including cauliflower, green chili and brinjal, and has become an icon in the area.
"I've learnt how to produce safe vegetables through organic methods and the venture has made me successful," he said, adding that many of his co-villagers are now following him. Demands of the unseasonal vegetable have been increasing gradually due to rising awareness among the public in general about the importance of food values as the nutritious foods as well. The unseasonal vegetable crop is seen selling in both the wholesale and retail markets with exorbitant prices for over a month inspiring many others to grow the cash crop.
Entazul Haque, 54, of Fulbari village, has cultivated the crop on three bighas of land and has completed selling one bigha. The non-season vegetable is giving better profit to the growers compared to the winter season at present. He said cabbage is mainly a winter vegetable but the farmers have been cultivating it during the summer season in the region for the last couple of years to earn more money as the consumer-level demand is gradually mounting.
"I have been selling the newly harvested vegetable at Taka 60 per kilogram on an average for the last two weeks," he said, adding the sale-proceed is many more compared to the late season of winter. On behalf of the 'Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM)' project, more than 12.60 lakh community people of 2.66 lakh households are being motivated and encouraged towards farming of the low-water consuming crops, including the cabbage like vegetables, to reduce the pressure on underground water. DASCOH Foundation has been implementing the project in 1,280 drought-hit villages of 39 Union Parishads and three municipalities under eight upazilas in Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts supported by Switzerland since 2015, said Jahangir Alam Khan, coordinator of the project.
Sub Assistant Agriculture officer Atanu Saker told BSS that they are witnessing more interest among the farmers towards summer cauliflower and cabbage farming in the region.
Currently, around 70 enthusiastic farmers of eight villages are seen cultivating the high-valued crops on around 350 bigha of land only in Iswaripur block of Dewpara Union and most of them are delighted over the farming.
Godagari Upazila Agriculture officer Mariam Ahmed said they are extending technical support to the farmers to make the vegetable farming profitable.
The vegetable farming is more profitable compared to the cereal crops, including paddy.
Mozder Hossain, Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension, told BSS that cauliflower and cabbage are being cultivated on around 20 hectares of land in the district at present. Godagari, Paba, Puthiya and Durgapur upazilas are seen dominating in this field.
He said farmers get benefits by farming vegetables. It brings smiles on marginal farmers and poor people's faces.