Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Farmers are busy cultivating winter vegetables in the fields of Cumilla . This year, the target for winter vegetable cultivation in Cumilla has been set at 12,600 hectares. The total production target has been fixed at 3 lakh 15 thousand metric tons. The production target per hectare has been fixed at 25 MT. If the average retail price of vegetables per kg is fixed at Tk 50, the agriculture department believes that it will be possible to produce vegetables worth Tk 150 crore from Cumilla district this season.

Farmers are working in the field preparing to grow various types of vegetables including tomato, cauliflower, beans, gourd, cabbage, radish, red cabbage, sweet pumpkin, and burdock. Agriculture department and farmers said that this target can be achieved if the weather is favorable. Agriculture department will make maximum effort to help farmers at field level. If the target is achieved, the farmer, the general consumer, the agriculture department will all benefit from it.

Cumilla Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Ayub Mahmud said that if the weather is favorable, it is possible to plant and produce more vegetables than the target. We are campaigning on the government's program so that 'not even an inch of land remains uncultivated'. Encouraging all farmers including under our uncultivated fallow land, backyard family vegetable garden scheme. We hope that the small cultivated areas will also come under vegetable cultivation. We expect to achieve and exceed our targets.

According to the sources of Agriculture Department, usually from mid-October to March, various winter vegetables are produced. Debidwar, Chandina, Burichong, Brahmanpara, Daudkandi, Barura, Muradnagar and other upazilas of Cumilla district cultivate a large amount of vegetables. These vegetables are sent to other districts to fulfill their own needs of Cumilla district. Besides, vegetables are also exported from Cumilla abroad. Meanwhile, the seedling farmers are busy in the production of vegetable seedlings. Cumilla also has a reputation for vegetable seedlings throughout the country. Early vegetable production has already started in many upazilas of Cumilla . Farmers are profiting by selling these vegetables in the market.

The target of production of winter vegetables worth Tk 150 crore in Cumilla, farmer Hamid Miah, a seedling farmer in Lakshipur area of Sadar Dakshin Upazila of Cumilla , said, I hope to get good results in the production of seedlings this time. Now it is not heavy rain. He also said that if the weather is dry and favorable, the production of vegetables will be good. Farmers can profit by growing vegetables if they want. Good yield is obtained from current seeds.

Cumilla Sadar Dakshin Upazila Agriculture Officer Junayed Kabir Khan said that if the target is achieved, the people of Cumilla district will be able to eat vegetables at a lower price than the current one for the entire winter season. Which will be very useful for common people. If the weather is not hostile we are hopeful of achieving the target. If the target is achieved, the farmer, the general consumer, the agriculture department will all benefit from it.

Debidwar upazila agriculture officer Banin Roy said, I have served in Burichong upazila for a long time. Nimsar and surrounding areas of Burichong and Chandina upazila and surrounding areas produce large quantities of vegetables throughout the year. Now I am transferred to Devidwar. Coming here, I came to know that vegetables are produced in Devidwar throughout the year. He said, we are cooperating with farmers throughout the year. Apart from this, incentives are also given to farmers if they are affected due to natural calamities.

The Department of Agriculture Extension says that if the target is achieved, the common people will be able to buy and eat vegetables at low cost in winter. It will be possible to meet the nutritional needs of the common people as well as meet the needs of cheap food.