Pabna, Nov 17 (V7N)- Ishwardi and Atgharia upazilas of Pabna, known as the vegetable hubs of Bangladesh, faced severe challenges this season due to heavy rains and other natural disasters. Despite initial setbacks, farmers in the region are experiencing a remarkable turnaround with a bumper harvest of beans, bringing much-needed relief to the agricultural community.

 
Unseasonal and heavy rainfall wreaked havoc on winter vegetable crops, including beans, carrots, radishes, eggplants, onions, tomatoes, and cauliflowers. The Meteorological Office reported 492.5 millimeters of rainfall in Ishwardi in September alone, causing widespread damage to approximately 6-700 hectares of vegetable fields, including around 300 hectares of bean crops.

 
After successive efforts to revive their crops, farmers are now witnessing a vibrant bean harvest. Fields across Muladuli, Aotapara, Chandbha, Khidirpur, and Hapania are adorned with flourishing bean plants. Early varieties of "Auto Beans" have already hit the markets, bringing smiles to farmers who are fetching high prices of Tk 90 to 100 per kilogram.

 
According to local traders, beans worth Tk 3-4 crore are being sold daily at Muladuli's bustling vegetable market. Around 45 to 50 truckloads of beans are being transported to Dhaka and other districts, including Chattogram, Sylhet, Narayanganj, Bogura, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Sirajganj, and Natore.

Anishur Rahman, a farmer from Muladuli village, said, "In winter, the entire community is involved in vegetable farming. Many farmers have achieved self-sufficiency through this seasonal produce."

Abdur Razzak, General Secretary of the Muladuli Sabji Artaddar Samiti, remarked, "For 20 years, Muladuli has been a hub of festive buying and selling of beans. Every day, traders from different districts come here to purchase fresh vegetables."

 
The Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Department reports that winter vegetables have been cultivated on 6,082 hectares of land, with a production target of 1,58,314 tons. Of this, beans were planted on 1,290 hectares, targeting a yield of 30,500 tons. Despite initial losses due to heavy rainfall, the yield is now on track to compensate for earlier damages.

Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said, "While heavy rains initially caused significant damage, the current bean yield is promising. We hope the farmers will be able to recover their losses and end the season on a positive note."

 
The resilience of the farmers in Ishwardi and Atgharia underscores the strength of Bangladesh's agricultural sector. With favorable yields and high market demand, the region's farmers are poised to overcome this season's adversities, contributing significantly to the country's vegetable supply.