Photo : BSS

KHULNA, Oct 30, 2025 (BSS)- Local markets across the region are now flooded with early varieties of fresh winter vegetables, bringing smiles to farmers.

Farmers and officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) are also expecting a bumper yield of winter vegetables in Khulna this season.

Winter vegetables were cultivated in around 30,365 hectares of land in the Khulna region this year. Good weather condition, supply of quality seeds, fertilizers and agro-inputs as well as technical assistance of the DAE, BARI and several NGOs, resulted in better yield this year.

Bangladesh Krishi Bank and some NGOs have disbursed loans and interest-free credit to farmers for large-scale winter vegetable cultivation. 

DAE sources said, early winter vegetables have been harvested on 24,248 hectares of land in Khulna, Bagerhat, Narail and Satkhira districts.

Major winter crops include cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant, bottle gourd, pumpkin, beans, spinach, red amaranth, and carrots. Farmers are now busy nurturing their vegetation with irrigation, pest control, and fertilizer application.

“People have a great demand for early winter vegetables, so we started sowing red amaranth early hoping for a good market price,” said farmer Saiful Islam. 

Another farmer, Hamidul, said he is cultivating cauliflower and cabbage but often faces low prices during peak supply.

Many farmers began planting early winter vegetables immediately after recent rainfalls and the recession of floodwaters in the low-lying areas. Others have taken up early varieties after harvesting short-duration Aman paddy in late September. Besides, farmers have also started cultivating Robi crops, in full swing.

For the 2025-26 Robi season, the DAE has targeted to produce 7, 31,305 tonnes of crops, including vegetables from 31,011 hectares of land, an average yield of 23.58 tonnes per hectare.
 
In comparison, 7, 05,672 tonnes of Robi crops were produced from 30,247 hectares last season.

Farmers are optimistic that the current harvest will bring higher profits, given strong local and national demand for fresh vegetables.

Talking to BSS, Additional Director of the Khulna Agriculture Zone Rafiqul Islam said that the region's vegetable output not only meets local needs but are also supplied in major wholesale markets, including Dhaka's Karwan Bazar.

Khulna's vegetables are also exported to several countries such as Italy, England, South Korea, and Middle Eastern countries, he added.

He said the agriculture department continues to assist farmers with fertilizers, seeds and modern training to boost yields and profits.
"Good harvests and fair prices have been encouraging farmers to expand vegetable cultivation every year," Rafiqul Islam said.

He said, emphasis has been given on cultivating vegetables on pond embankments, which require no pesticide and are safe for consumers.

He also expressed optimism that if there is no major natural disaster, the region will achieve its full production target this season.