Farmers in Chandpur, Bangladesh, are focusing on early winter vegetable and Boro crop cultivation to recover from recent natural disasters, including floods. The district's eight upazilas suffered significant agricultural damage due to floods, prolonged water-logging, and heavy rainfall, with limited government assistance reported. Farmers Ali Ahammad Bepari and Alamgir Miji from Debpur village are among those preparing their fields for winter vegetables, with Alamgir cultivating cucumber and Ali focusing on pumpkin and bottle gourd.
In Matlab South upazila, around 70% of agricultural land remains waterlogged, but there is optimism that it will dry out in time for winter vegetable sowing. The disasters impacted not only crops but also infrastructure and water sources, with Shahrasti upazila notably seeing damage to about 1,600 tube wells. The total estimated loss in the region is approximately $18 million.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Chandpur reports that most of the district's 400,000 farmers were affected. In response, the government has distributed cash, seeds, and fertilizers to aid recovery. Md Mobarak Hossain, a local agriculturalist, highlighted the cultivation of various early winter vegetables and Boro crops across 63,980 hectares, aiming for a substantial yield. He expects a diverse harvest in December, with some vegetables already available in local markets at affordable prices.
The DAE office in Chandpur has set a target to cultivate vegetables on 5,500 hectares, aiming for a yield of 121,000 metric tonnes. Potato cultivation is a particular focus, with an expected yield of 197,340 metric tonnes. Efforts are also underway to promote the cultivation of sweet potato, garlic, onion, and other crops on available land, despite challenges in encouraging farmers to diversify beyond personal consumption needs. Agriculture officials and experts are pushing for increased production of essential food items to ensure local availability and support farmer recovery.
Source: The Financial Express