Rangpur farmers cultivate early winter vegetables profitably on croplands, homesteads, fallow lands, boosting regional agricultural production. Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Sept 30, 2025 (BSS) – After reaping profits in recent years, enthusiastic farmers have already begun cultivation of early varieties of winter vegetables on their croplands in Rangpur region.

Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said steps have been taken to inspire farmers in cultivating early varieties of winter vegetables on their croplands, fallow lands and homesteads to enhance overall crop production.

“Farmers have already started sowing seeds of early varieties of winter in five districts of the region,” Acting Additional Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Md Sirajul Islam told BSS today.

The five districts are Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.  
  
"However, farming of general winter vegetables will get momentum when harvest of the traditional varieties of Aman rice will continue in full swing from the third week of November in the region," Sirajul Islam said. 

Dr Md Abu Sayem, Deputy Director of the DAE's Burirhat Horticulture Centre in Rangpur city, said farmers are expected to bring more lands under cultivation of early varieties of winter vegetables in the mainland, char areas and fallow homesteads.

Many farmers started farming early winter vegetables soon after the recent rainfalls and recession of water from their submerged croplands in low-lying areas this year. 

Besides, farmers are also cultivating early varieties of winter vegetables after harvesting short duration varieties of Aman rice from the third week of the current month in all five districts of Rangpur agricultural region.

 “As a result, some early varieties of winter vegetables are likely to appear in local markets from mid-October following early cultivation of those, adopting newer cropping patterns amidst changing climatic conditions,” Sayem said. 
Talking to BSS, farmer Rafikul Islam of Paschim Madraine village in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur said he is cultivating early varieties of brinjal on his 25 decimals of land aiming to earn a lucrative profit in the coming months.
“I am expecting to sell my produced brinjal at Taka 90,000 during the next four months to earn a profit of about Taka 75,000 excluding Taka 15,000 farming cost,” he hoped.
Farmer Badsha Mian of village Lohanipara in nearby Badarganj upazila said he has cultivated ‘Lal Shak’ and ‘Mula Shak’ on his 30 decimals of land.

“I expect to start harvesting my cultivated ‘Lal Shak’ and ‘Mula Shak’ from next week,” he said, adding that he is expecting to sell his produce at Taka 30,000 by the next three weeks to earn a net profit of Taka 22,000.

Farmers Belal Mian, Rabiul Islam and many others of village Palichara Sarderpara in Rangpur Sadar said they are cultivating early winter bean, coriander, bitter gourd, radish, brinjal, chilli, potato, and kakrol in their farmlands to earn better profits this season.

Farmers Wazed Ali and Ashraful Alam of village Ranipukur Purbopara in Mithapukur upazila said they have cultivated early varieties of bitter gourd, brinjal, dudhkushi, chilli, jhinga, kakrol, borboti, potol, off-season cabbage and cauliflower and leafy vegetables.

Most farmers are hoping to make more profits by starting to harvest winter vegetables grown in their fields next month.