SYLHET, Nov 15: Some 26,262 hectares of land in all the four districts of Sylhet division have already been brought under the farming of winter crops and vegetables.
Of the said total, varieties of vegetables have been grown in 21,401 hectares of land, potato in 949 hectares, wheat in 143 hectares, mustard in 1,586 hectares, coriander in 568 hectares, chilli in 506 hectares, mash kalai in 371 hectares and French bean in 233 hectares of land.
The rest of the areas have been come under maize, sweet potato, garlic, onion, lentil, sugarcane and groundnut production.
Additional deputy director of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Sylhet, Md Altabur Rahman said vegetable farming has been expanded in the region in recent years.
The senior official also said the farmers in this region had almost no interest in vegetable farming years ago. However, the trend is totally different in recent years. The department provides all out support to the farmers in this connection.
Hopefully in a year or two, most of the arable lands in the Sylhet division would be come under crop production, said Mr Rahman, adding, the DAE has already taken up a comprehensive programme to achieve the goal.
Our roving correspondent from s adds: Winter vegetable cultivation has brought smile in the faces of grassroots farmers in the district this season.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office sources said over 13,000 hectares of land have already come under the farming of early winter vegetable production with the production target of 20,000 tonnes.
Azadul Islam of Akkelpur uapzila said growers are delighted over the present market prices.
The farmer said vegetable production is a profitable venture nowadays.
DAE official sources said cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, bottle gourd, red spinach, radish, tomato and brinjal are the most popular item among the peasants.
Most of the traders collect those vegetable from the growers directly and transport to different districts across the country.
Shahidul Islam of Pacbibi upazila said he cultivated cauliflower on 33 decimals of land spending Tk 24,000.
The farmer said he has already made a profit over Tk 0.1 million this season.
Deputy Director of DAE Sudhindrda Nath Roy said fertile land and favourable weather condition helped achieve good vegetable production.
Grassroots growers are earning a healthy profit this Rabi season.