Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, May 6, 2025 (BSS) – After achieving bumper yields and good prices in recent years, enthusiastic farmers have once again produced an all-time record 10,39,699 tonnes of winter vegetables in the just-ended Rabi season in Rangpur agricultural region.
 
They expressed happiness at receiving good prices for their produced winter vegetables throughout the season. 
 
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said that a target of producing 10,04,872 tonnes of winter vegetables from 39,562 hectares of land was fixed for all five districts of the region this time.
  
“However, enthusiastic farmers cultivated winter vegetables on 39,742 hectares of land, exceeding the fixed farming target by 180 hectares in the region,” Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Md Shafikul Islam told BSS.
 
After completing harvest, farmers produced 10,39,699 tonnes of winter vegetables worth Taka 3,120 crore (at the minimum average rate of Taka 30 per kg at farmers’ level) higher by 34,827 tonnes against the fixed production target this time.
  
Talking to BSS, vegetable farmers Manik Mia, Solaiman Ali, Kafil Uddin and Lokman Hossain of different villages under Sadar and Mithapukur upazilas here said they got a super bumper production of winter vegetables with rewarding prices. 
 
Meanwhile, farmers have already cultivated summer vegetables on 24,856 hectares of land against the fixed farming target of the crops on 30,218 hectares to produce 5,63,779 tonnes of vegetables during the current Kharif-1 season in the region.
 
“Farmers have already started harvesting early varieties of summer vegetables to reap rewarding profits as sowing of the seeds still continues during this Kharif-1 season,” Islam said.
 
Vegetable trader Hafizur Rahman at Rangpur City Bazar said the farmers are currently selling different varieties of summer vegetables at rates between Taka 25 and Taka 55 per kg on an average to the wholesale markets, local middlemen and fariahs. 
 
“However, retail prices are higher by Taka 10 to Taka 20 per kg or even more in the local markets as some vegetables are being perished during transportations and marketing processes to increase retail prices,” Rahman added.
  
Retail vegetable trader Fazlul Haque at Keranipara kitchen market in Rangpur said they are selling tomato at rates between Taka 30 and 35 per kg, potato between Taka 25 and 40 per kg, brinjal between Taka 60 and 80 per kg and bitter gourd between Taka 40 and 60 per kg.
 
‘Patal’ at rates between Taka 40 and 50 per kg, ‘Kakrol’ between Taka 70 and 80’ per kg, ladies finger between Taka 50 and 55 per kg, onion between Taka 50 and 60 per kg and garlic between Taka 140 and 160 per kg.
 
Drumsticks at rates between Taka 120 and 140 per kg, papaya between Taka 50 and 60 per kg, cucumber between T aka 40 and 60 per kg and arum roots between Taka 60 and 70 per kg,
 
“Besides, we are selling green chili at rates between Taka 50 and 55 per kg, sweet pumpkin between 25 and 30 per kg, snake gourd between Taka 50 and 60 per kg in the local markets,” Fazlur Rahman added.