Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, July 20, 2026 (BSS) – After exceeding the set farming target this season, farmers of Rangpur agricultural region are happy with the good yield and profitable prices of Kharif-1 summer vegetables, as harvesting is in full swing now.
 
Market sources said that summer vegetables are sold in large quantities in local markets and sent to the capital city and other parts of the country daily from Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts of the region.
 
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials said that a target of producing over 5,65,791 tonnes of summer vegetables have been set from 30,085 hectares of land for the Rangpur agricultural region during the current Kharif-1 season.
 
“However, farmers have finally cultivated summer vegetables on 31,130 hectares of land, exceeding the set farming target by 1,045 hectares or 3.47 percent in the region,” said Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Shirajul Islam.
 
In the meantime, farmers have already harvested summer vegetables on 17,385 hectares of land till Sunday and produced 3,21,177 tonnes of vegetables at an excellent average yield rate of 18.47 tonnes per hectare of land.
  
Enthusiastic farmers, who have repeatedly received bumper yields and profitable market prices every year, are cultivating vegetables two to three times a year on the same land, and many of them have achieved self-sufficiency in recent years.

Cultivation of vegetables on croplands, homesteads and riverine char areas has become a highly profitable scheme for farmers across the region in recent years. 

"As the harvest continues with excellent yield rates, there is a possibility of bumper harvest of summer vegetables cultivated in the Kharif-1 season in the Rangpur agricultural region this season," said Md Shirajul Islam. 
 
Farmers Noman Ali and Ashraful Islam of village Ranipukur in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur said they have cultivated Dudhkushi, Jhinga, Kakrol, chili, bitter gourd, brinjal, Borboti, Potol, chili, off-season cabbage and leafy vegetables this season.

Local fariahs Mohammad Abdullah, Sekendar Ali and Abul Kalam said they purchase summer vegetables from farmers on their fields and sell to merchants at wholesale markets with 15 to 20 percent profits on an average.  
 
Merchants at wholesale markets of Shothibari and Jaigirhat in Mithapukur upazila, Palichara in Sadar upazila and Rangpur city market said daily vegetable supply had reduced a little in recent days due to frequent monsoon rains. 
 
“The supply of summer vegetables is gradually returning to normal, but prices are a bit high,” proprietor of Bithi Banijyalaya at Rangpur city wholesale market Md Delwar Hossain told BSS this afternoon. 
 
Retailers in Rangpur city market, Palichara market and Shothibari and Pirgachha markets of Rangpur said they buy vegetables from wholesale market traders and sell them to consumers at a profit of 10 to 15 percent.
 
Retailers Md Hafizur Rahman of Rangpur city market and Fazlur Rahman of Keranipara kitchen market in Rangpur city said that farmers are happy to get fair prices for summer vegetables. 
 
"However, consumers are not satisfied with the price of vegetables," he added.
 
Consumers are currently buying potato at Taka 25-50 per kg, Dudhkushi at Taka 50, Kakrol at Taka 55 and Jhinga 60 at Taka 60-80 per kg, Potol at Taka 50 and brinjal at Taka 60-100 per kg, cucumber at Taka 100-150, papaya at Taka 25-30 and green chilli at Taka 160 -200 per kg, radish at Taka 30, onion at Taka 50 and garlic at Taka 150-200 per kg in these local markets.
 
“Besides, bitter gourd is being sold at Taka 40-50 per piece, cabbage at Taka 240 per kg, pumpkin at Taka 50 per kg, coriander at Taka 300 per kg, gourd at Taka 50-60 per piece, Sajina at Taka 120-160 per kg, Borboti at Taka 80 per kg, arum roots at Taka 60 per kg and Ol Kochu at Taka 80 per kg,” Hafizur Rahman said.