Higher costs cloud prospects for Jhenaidah vegetable growers

Farmers in Jhenaidah are expanding early vegetable cultivation, encouraged by favourable weather and good market prices, but rising production costs remain a major concern.
Fields across the district are now covered with rows of cauliflower, cabbage, beans, radishes, gourds and sweet potatoes. Farmers are working hard to harvest early vegetables and take advantage of higher prices during the off-season.
Although many farmers are earning good returns, higher prices of fertilisers, pesticides and fuel have increased production costs, putting pressure on their profits. Farmers Akidul Islam of Holidhani village in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila and Zahir Uddin, who cultivates vegetables in Muraridaha of Jhenaidah municipality, said this year's early vegetable yields were satisfactory and market prices were encouraging.
However, they said the rising costs of agricultural inputs had significantly increased their expenses. “If the government keeps the prices of agricultural inputs under control, we will be able to make more profit,” Akidul said. Local agricultural officials, including Md Mofiz Uddin, deputy assistant agricultural officer of Holidhani Union, and Ferdous Haider Jewel of Saganna Union, said favourable weather had contributed to a good harvest this year.
They said farmers can make profits despite higher production costs if market prices remained fair and reflected demand. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah, the department is providing farmers with technical assistance and advice on early vegetable production.
Kamruzzaman, deputy director of the DAE in Jhenaidah, said the district had set a target of cultivating vegetables on 5,785 hectares this year, but the area had already reached around 6,500 hectares, exceeding the target. He said the district's soil and elevated terrain were suitable for vegetable cultivation and that the department was providing farmers with necessary guidance to expand production.
Agricultural stakeholders stressed the need to curb the influence of middlemen, ensure fair prices for farmers and keep fertiliser and pesticide prices affordable to sustain the expansion of vegetable cultivation in the district.