Winter vegetables have put a smile on the faces of farmers affected by floods and several river erosions in Ulipur of Kurigram. Various types of vegetables have been cultivated in the vast pastures. Farmers and farmers are busy now on the banks of Teesta river. Farmers are worried about the price of winter vegetables in pastures.
Different varieties of vegetables are seen in Khamar Damarhat, Sadua Damarhat, Bogulakura, Satalskar, Paschim Bajra, Char Bajra, Kalpani Bajra, Kham Bajra, East Bajra and East and Madhya Bajra areas of Bajra Union of the upazila. The farmers of those areas were greatly affected by the 2-day river erosion of the Teesta in last August. To overcome this loss, they cultivate winter vegetables as soon as the Teesta water recedes. Meanwhile, marketing of onion, gourd, potato, brinjal, beans, radish, red shallot, spinach, kopi, cilantro has started. These vegetables are in great demand.
These vegetables are going to different regions of the country to meet the local demand. But it will still take a few weeks for onions, garlic, potatoes, almonds, black cumin seeds, sesame seeds, beans, sweet pumpkins, green chillies, tishi to grow in full swing.
According to Upazila Agriculture Office sources, the target of vegetable cultivation is set in 1 thousand 50 hectares of land in the current season. Vegetables have been cultivated in 15 hectares more than the target.
Majida Bewa, a 70-year-old woman, was seen picking early orange onions in the field with her son's wife and grandchildren in Teestar pastures in Bogulakura area.
He said that the price of onion is relatively low this time. The male members of the family have gone to find work, so the women have to pick vegetables with the children.
Roshan Sardar, a farmer of Sadua Damarhat area, said that he cultivated onion, mulashak, red cabbage, spinach and coriander leaves in one plot. Everything is expensive but the price of crops is not. As the price of vegetables is not good in the market, the cost is not rising. Farmers from various areas affected by Bajra river erosion, Lutfar Rahman, Rashidul Islam, Nurul Huda, Amjad Hossain, Zahidul Islam and many others said the same thing.
Sofial Sardar, a farmer of the same area, said that he had planted oranges on 6 percent of the land on lease. After picking onions and selling them, now they have planted peppers.
He sold onions for 7 thousand rupees. Which somehow cost.
Upazila Agriculture Officer and agriculturist Mosharraf Hossain said that the yield of winter vegetables has been good in Char area due to favorable weather conditions. Farmers are always being advised by the Agriculture Office. Allegation that farmers are not getting fair price is not correct.
The government subsidized agriculture thus reducing the cost of production. Because seeds and fertilizers have been given as incentives to the farmers at the marginal level.
