Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, Aug 13, 2025 (BSS) - Nutritious vegetable farming, including homestead cultivation, has witnessed remarkable success in Rajshahi region, particularly across its vast Barind tract, known for its abundant vegetable production and favorable climate.

Farmers in the region are achieving excellent yields and profits from a wide range of vegetables, both winter and summer varieties. The promotion of sustainable and organic farming practices-especially among the urban poor and in drought-prone areas-is contributing significantly to this success.

Rajshahi, a major hub of vegetable production, yields approximately 2.5 lakh tonnes of vegetables in a single season. Commonly grown varieties include cauliflower, cabbage, bottle gourd, spinach, and red amaranth, along with high-value crops like broccoli and beans, which have gained popularity due to attractive market prices.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is playing a key role by promoting vegetable cultivation, providing technical support, and encouraging the adoption of high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties and modern technologies.

Muhammad Shahabuddin, a resident of Palpur village under Godagari upazila, told BSS, "I have set up a vegetable and fruit garden on two decimals of unused land around my house and now enjoy fresh produce throughout the year." After meeting family needs, he sold produce such as papaya, banana, kulboroi (plum), kamranga (star fruit), dalim (pomegranate), bottle gourd, chili, onion, and garlic, earning around Taka 8,000 over the past year.

Shahabuddin noted that the garden has become the main source of both income and nutrition for his family.

Piarul Islam of Phulbari village also changed his fortune through homestead gardening. 

Similarly, Shaheda Begum of Ishwaripur village described the initiative as "very helpful in improving living standards and livelihood conditions."

Belly Begum, 40, of Dighipara village under Paba upazila, has become economically solvent through organic vegetable cultivation on her homestead. With full support from her husband and children, she is producing safe, chemical-free vegetables, which are mostly sold directly from her home.

She shared that she received training on biofertilizers, seed conservation, and sustainable land use, helping her improve productivity without compromising soil health. "Earlier, life was a struggle. But now, through vegetable farming and rearing poultry and goats, I can ensure nutrition and generate income," she said emotionally.

Inspired by her success, many of her neighbors have also begun growing vegetables using organic methods in recent years.

In Dhamila village under Godagari upazila, Sultanul Arefin, 52, has become an icon in innovative vegetable farming. Leaving his job as a senior cashier at AB Bank, Arefin turned to farming on 30 bighas of land, including mango orchards.

He is cultivating vegetables and fruits such as guava, malta, and lemon, and has created bamboo-built platforms for bottle gourd farming over 3.5 bighas of vacant orchard land. His efforts have drawn attention from locals and beyond.

"I left banking out of a deep desire to provide people with safe, nutritious, and fresh produce," said Arefin, who now sends vegetables to markets in Dhaka. His garden is modern, technology-driven, and a source of inspiration in the community.

Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Atanu Sarker emphasized that homestead gardening fosters self-sufficiency and is profitable and sustainable. "We are working to scale up family nutrition gardening across the region," he added.

He further said that this initiative boosts the rural economy and helps meet protein and nutritional demands by using otherwise fallow land around homes.

Many people are now cultivating vegetables, fruits, and spices year-round in homesteads and other unused spaces in hopes of improving their living standards.

DAE Additional Director Dr Azizur Rahman told BSS that the promotion of vegetable and fruit gardening is crucial in addressing the region's growing pressure on underground water resources, as these crops are comparatively less water-intensive.

He added that homestead gardening is playing a vital role in elevating socio-economic conditions in the region while helping to mitigate the water crisis.