Jannatul Ferdous
Vegetable export to European countries, Middle East and Singapore has increased remarkably in the recent months.
Vegetables from the country, especially from Sonmandi and Baidyerbazar Union of Sonargaon in Narayanganj are being exported to those countries.
Farmers are being encouraged in producing more vegetables as they are getting lucrative price of their products.
People of this area are becoming more interested in vegetable cultivation day by day. In addition to crop land, farmers are cultivating different types of vegetables in the litchi gardens for more profit.
However, most vegetables are cultivated in Sonmandi Union. Especially in the winter season, a lot of watermelon is cultivated in Sonmandi. Although exportable vegetables are procured from other unions of Sonargaon, most of the vegetables are exported from Sonmandi and Baidyerbazar Unions in the winter season.
The farmers are benefiting economically. It is learnt that in Sonargaon Union's Sonmandi Union of Moghbazar , Nazirpur, Darikandi, Banglabazar, Nayakandi, Alipura, Kumargaon, Noyangor, Batirchar, Sonmandi areas and Haridya, Ulukandi and Gabtali, Khongshardi, Dighichanpur of Baidyerbazar Union have regular exports to Middle Eastern and European countries of Rajab Leaf, Lai Leaf, Gourd, Barbati, Kankrael, Uchche, Shrimp, Red Spinach, Spinach, Data, Jali, Kachumukhi, Kachu, Sweet Pumpkin, Eggplant, Tomato, Patol, Rice Pumpkin Gourd, raw papaya, raw banana, cucumber and winter vegetables bean, gourd, cabbage, coriander leaves, tomato, green chilies radish and more than 50 vegetables. By cultivating these vegetables, the farmers are becoming self-sufficient.
Women are also helping in vegetable cultivation. However, the export of vegetables is being hampered due to non-harvesting this season, said the exporter.
SM Jahangir Hassan, a vegetable exporter from Sonargaon says, they have a vegetable exporting company. About Tk 800 crore worth of vegetables are imported from Bangladesh every year through Bangladesh Fruits Vegetables and Allied Products Productivity Association for exports to foreign markets.
Corona has inflicted huge losses this season. In different areas of Sonmandi and Baidyerbazar Unions it has been seen that farmers are cultivating vegetables in low and high lands as well as in backyards and roadsides. Besides cultivating gourds, farmers are cultivating mixed crops including Rajab leaves and Lai leaves.
In different villages of Sonmandi Union’s Nazirpur many farmers like Shahjalal Mia, Taifazzal, Kabir, Gaeljar, Amanullah, Maektar, Matin, and Amir have planted pumpkins on about 70 acres of land and those were exported abroad. For the last 2 years they have benefited a lot in pumpkin cultivation. As a result, everyone has become interested in cultivating gourds on more land this year.
Aminul Islam and Shah Newaz, vegetable growers of Haria village in Vaidyerbazar union, said they do not get fair prices for the vegetables in local market. However, we get better prices for the vegetables by exporting them abroad. Vegetable exporters A.Karim and Mataleb Mia said they have been involved in exporting these vegetables for 15 years.
SonargaonUpazila Agriculture Officer Monira Akhter said, vegetable exporters can easily collect vegetables due to its proximity to Sonargaon from Dhaka. Moreover, the vegetables of Sonargaon are very commendable as they are free from ripening. The SonargaonUpazila Agriculture Office is working to get rid of pesticides from vegetables.
