Madaripur chars turn green with winter vegetable farming

With the onset of winter, farmers in the char (riverine island) areas of the district have become busy cultivating winter vegetables, as the season's first batches of greens are expected to reach markets within a few weeks.

The vast tracts of fertile land along the Padma and Arial Khan rivers are now blanketed in greenery as nature bursts into a scene of abundant crops.

During visits to different upazilas of the district, it was found that farmers were cultivating various winter vegetables such as eggplant, radish, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, red amaranth, coriander, stem amaranth, and Malabar spinach on the fertile char lands.

Many are growing multiple crops on the same field, such as planting red amaranth with eggplant. When the red amaranth is harvested, the eggplants begin to bear fruit, earning the farmers double profit from a single plot.

Farmers across the vast charlands are now passing busy days tending to their fields, applying fertiliser, irrigating, and weeding. The winter vegetable season has brought new enthusiasm among them. With strong local demand and good market prices, they are expanding cultivation every year.

Demand for vegetables grown in the char areas is rising in local markets of Sadar, Rajoir, Shibchar, and Kalkini upazilas. Local wholesalers and retailers are purchasing the produce and supplying it beyond the district, benefiting farmers, traders, and labourers alike.

Rajoir farmer Abdul Halim said, "We make our living from winter vegetable cultivation. Sales are good, and we get fair prices, though untimely rain sometimes causes losses."

Yakub Sheikh, a farmer from Shibchar, said they receive regular guidance and support from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

"With improved seeds, pest control, and modern agricultural technologies, our yields are increasing," he added.

Syed Rakib, a farmer from Dasar, said, "We expect good production this year, though it would be better if fertiliser and seed prices were a bit lower."

The district's DAE Deputy Director Dr Rahima Khatun said, "Not only vegetables, but various spice crops also grow well in the Madaripur region. We are continuously providing technical advice and assistance to farmers through different sections of the department."

If the weather remains favourable and irrigation is ensured in time, this year's winter vegetable production is expected to surpass that of previous years, she added.

According to the DAE, cultivation of winter crops in the Padma and Arial Khan riverine char areas of the district has been increasing every year. Besides meeting local demand, these vegetables are also being supplied to other regions of the country.

As winter approaches, the lush green waves across the charlands stand as a symbol of farmers' hard work and hope. If production remains good, it will not only bring smiles to farmers' faces but also add a new success story to the country's economy.