Rajshahi farmers delighted as vegetable harvest promises profits

Rajshahi farmers delighted as vegetable harvest promises profits

The farmers in Rajshahi are delighted as bumper harvest of vegetables this season promises profits for them.

Farmers say that gourd, eggplants, okra, chilis and vegetables like that are risky crops and often do not even bring in the cost let alone profits.

However, they are happy with the current prices, saying that this year they might see profits.

In several areas in Rajshahi’s Paba Upazila, farmers were seen planting vegetables alongside paddy. Many are going for early harvests given the high prices of vegetables.

Several farmers who planted chilis and vegetables on low lands were in fear of losing the crops as they are at risk of being destroyed by heavy rain.

However, this year they expect a harvest of 25 to 30 maunds (1 maund=40kg) of chili.

In the beginning of the season, they sold each maund of green chili for Tk1,000.

In a matter of 15 days, prices soared to Tk8,000 per maund.

Moreover, now that import is more than market demand, farmers are selling each maund of chili for Tk6,000.

They say that if the prices remain stable, they will have more than twice the profit.

Farmers at a vegetable field in Rajshahi Robin, a farmer from Baragachi Union, sold one maund of gourd for Tk750. Last week he sold it for Tk900 per maund.

“Last year’s harvest was not good and prices were also low,” he told.

He added that despite losses last year, this year he hopes for double profit.

Salam, a trader from Mohanpur Upazila says that on Thursday he bought gourds for Tk800-Tk1000 as import has increased.

The week Mohammad Ali, a trader in Nawhata Haat, paid Tk1100-Tk1200 per maund of gourd last week.

“Last year, gourds were sold Tk200-600. Compared to the last few years, farmers are getting more prices this year,” he said.

Farmer Dulal Hossain sold three maunds of bitter gourd for Tk720 per maund at the Nawhata Haat. Last week he sold it for Tk1400 per maund.

Satata Enterprise trader Ayen Uddin said that last week he bought okra for Tk1300 per maund, egg plants Tk4,000, taro for Tk1,400 per maund and potatoes for Tk22 per kilograms.

Paba Agricultural Officer Shafiqul Islam said that in the upazila, bitter gourd was planted over 200 hectres of land, okra over 180 acres, egg-plants over 175 hectres, and chilis over 700 hectres of land.

Moreover, work was underway to make sure farmers planting seasonal vegetables get maximum profits.

Rajshahi Agricultural Extension Department Deputy Director Md Mozdar Hossain said that good prices this year are ensuring that the farmers are profiting.