Farmers and officials of the DAE are expecting a bumper production of winter vegetables in South-western region under Khulna division in the current Rabi season.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said farmers of the 10 south-western districts cultivated winter vegetables on 69,016 hectares of land this year with the production target of 12.90 lakh tonnes of vegetables.
Of the total, 15,176 hectares of land were brought in Jessore with the production target of 2,83,791 tonnes vegetables, 2,722 hectares in Narail with production target of 50,901 tonnes, 10,608 hectares in Jhenidah with production target of 1,98,370 tonnes, 3,833 hectares in Magura with production target of 71,677 tonnes, 6,855 hectares in Kushtia with production target of 1,28,189 tonnes vegetables.
Besides, 7,185 hectares in Chuadanga with production target of 1,34,360 tonnes, 3,698 hectares in Meherpur with production target of 69,153 tonnes, 9,212 hectares in Satkhira with production target of 1,72,264 tonnes, 5,409 hectares in Khulna with production target of 1,01,148 tonnes and 4,318 hectares of land in Bagerhat district with production target of 80,747 tonnes of winter vegetables.
The DAE and Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) have distributed sufficient quantity of quality seeds, other agro-inputs to the farmers and provided them with necessary technical assistance.
Different banks, including Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and NGO’s disbursed agriculture loans among the farmers to make the programme a success.
Farmers are expecting a bumper production of vegetables this year as they are getting at least 18-19 tonnes of vegetables from per hectare of land. All the varieties of winter vegetables have flooded the district’s and upazila’s kitchen markets, the sources said.
Additional Director of Jessore regional DAE M Abdul Mannan said that necessary steps have been taken to ensure supply of improved quality seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and other agri-inputs among the growers at fair prices to boost winter vegetables production. -BSS, Jessore
