Sunamganj Vegetable Farmers Get No Incentive This Season as Prices Fall in Bishwambharpur

Vegetable growers in Chhengbil village of Salukabad Union, in Sunamganj's Bishwambharpur upazila, are worried even though this season's vegetable crop has grown well. They say they received no incentive for vegetable farming this year, and vegetable prices in the market have fallen sharply.

In fields across Chhengbil village, beans and other vegetables have produced well. Bean vines covered in green leaves are dotted with purple bean flowers, and farmers are busy tending their plots.

Vegetable farmer Md Jahangir Mia of Chhengbil village has grown 'Kiranmala' red beans on three kiar of land. In the local measure, one kiar is 30 decimals.

Jahangir Mia said he has spent about Tk 100,000 since the month of Srabon on seeds, ploughing, pesticides and fertiliser. But he received no incentive for his vegetable farming.

On prices, he said vegetables have fallen sharply compared with last year. Kiranmala beans are now selling at Tk 30 a kilogram, or Tk 1,200 a maund. White beans are selling at Tk 60, brinjal at Tk 27 to 28 and cucumber at Tk 30 a kilogram. He is worried whether he will recover his cultivation costs at these prices.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension, Bishwambharpur upazila grows the most vegetables in Sunamganj. Sunamganj Sadar, Tahirpur and Jamalganj upazilas follow.

The same source said 7,600 vegetable farmers in the district received fertiliser, seed and incentive support last year. No incentive has been given so far this year, and farmers say there is no prospect of it being given soon either.

The target for vegetable cultivation in the district this Rabi season is 12,771 hectares. So far, vegetables have been planted on 6,490 hectares. Last year, vegetables were grown on 12,619 hectares in the district.

Jahangir Alam of Chanpur village in Jamalganj upazila headquarters said more than 500 families in 10 to 12 villages, including Sonapur, Chanpur, Mannanghat, Seliganj, Lakshmipur, Lalpur and Bhutiarpur, are involved in vegetable farming.

Jahangir Alam planted vegetables on 13 to 14 kiar of land this year and has spent more than Tk 200,000 so far. He complained that he is getting neither government support for vegetable farming nor advice and cooperation from the agriculture department at field level.

Mohammad Omar Faruk, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension's Sunamganj office, said fertiliser and seeds were given as incentives last season. No support has been received so far this season. He also said a shortage of manpower makes it impossible to advise farmers at field level in many upazilas.