In Kushtia’s Kumarkhali upazila, farmers are witnessing strong profits this season through the early cultivation of winter vegetables such as bottle gourd, bitter gourd, cauliflower, radish, and red amaranth. Favorable weather, good market prices, and modern cultivation methods have encouraged widespread vegetable farming across the region.
Farmer Shamim Ahmed, who cultivated bottle gourd on one and a half bighas of land, has already sold around 3,500 gourds over the past six weeks, earning Tk 178,000. Initially, he sold each gourd at Tk 50–55 in the wholesale market and is now selling at Tk 48–50. With total expenses of about Tk 40,000, he expects to earn a profit of nearly Tk 300,000 by the end of the season.
Like Shamim, many farmers in Kumarkhali have cultivated early winter vegetables across 736 hectares of land this year. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), these fields are expected to yield about 17,000 tons of vegetables, valued between Tk 76 crore and Tk 80 crore. The area under winter vegetable cultivation has increased from 716 hectares last year, driven by the promise of high returns.
Kushtia district, comprising six upazilas, ranks Kumarkhali second in vegetable production. This season, vegetable cultivation covered 1,950 hectares in Sadar, 645 in Daulatpur, 630 in Bheramara, 603 in Mirpur, 139 in Khoksa, and 736 hectares in Kumarkhali.
In Chandpur Union’s Mirpur village, farmer Omar Faruk cultivated bitter gourd on 49 decimals of land. Over the past two months, he sold about 150 maunds of produce worth Tk 300,000. With a production cost of Tk 120,000, he expects total sales of Tk 400,000–450,000 this season. “The plants start producing within 35 to 40 days of planting,” he said. “Initially, I sold 8–9 maunds daily at Tk 80–90 per kg. Now, I’m selling 80–90 kg a day and expect another Tk 100,000 worth of sales in the coming month.”
Farmers in Jaduboyra, Panti, Chandpur, Bagulat, and Nandlalpur unions are increasingly adopting modern mulching methods for vegetable cultivation. Under this system, straw, leaves, grass, or plastic sheets are used to cover the soil surface around the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, regulate temperature, and improve soil fertility. While only 15 percent of fields used mulching last year, this year the figure has nearly doubled to 30 percent.
Shahidul Islam of Hasdia village in Jaduboyra Union said he previously cultivated bananas but switched to red amaranth due to lower costs and higher profits. “I’ve cultivated one bigha of red amaranth this season and sold 1,200 bundles for Tk 24,000 in a month and a half. I expect to sell another 400 bundles soon, earning around Tk 30,000 profit every month,” he said.
Golam Rasul from Mirpur village said he learned about the mulching method from agricultural officers and has since seen significant profits. “I’ve cultivated bitter gourd on 10 decimals of land at a cost of Tk 12,000. Within a week, I’ll harvest around 60 maunds worth Tk 150,000,” he said.
In Dholnagar village, farmer Mohon Hossain cultivated early Don-125 variety cauliflower on 36 decimals of land. “I’ve already sold 2,000 cauliflowers from 16 decimals for Tk 70,000, with expenses of only Tk 2,000,” he said. “I’ll sell another 3,600 cauliflowers within a month.”
Farmers face no difficulty selling their produce as wholesale markets in Kumarkhali municipality and Panti bazar operate at full capacity. At least 14 wholesale depots function in these two areas, along with others in Kushtia Sadar, Khoksa, Shailkupa of Jhenaidah, Pangsha of Rajbari, and Pabna Sadar. Local wholesalers also visit farms directly to buy vegetables.
Milon Hossain, a wholesaler at Panti bazar, said, “Around 15,000 kilograms of vegetables are traded here daily, worth Tk 8–10 lakh.” Asadul Islam, manager of Anik Bhandar at the Kumarkhali municipal market, added that 20,000–22,000 kilograms of vegetables are traded daily across 11 wholesalers, with a total value of Tk 10–12 lakh.
Upazila agriculture officer Raisul Islam said, “Low investment and high profitability are encouraging more farmers to cultivate vegetables each year. We expect around 17,000 tons of early winter vegetables to be produced on 736 hectares of land this season.”
Assistant agriculture officer Abdullah Al Mamun noted that farmers are earning better prices this year, and the use of mulching has significantly reduced production costs.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer S.M. Mikail Islam emphasized the importance of supporting farmers year-round. “Whether for winter or summer crops, we provide incentives, advice, and technical support. To move the nation forward, we must stand by our farmers,” he said.
