Vegetable farmers in Pabna are reeling from heavy losses this winter as a glut in supply drives down market prices. The sharp decline in cauliflower prices has left farmers deeply concerned, while other winter vegetables have also suffered significant price drops due to oversupply, according to market sources.

Farmers reported selling each cauliflower for Tk 15 last year, but this season, prices have plummeted to Tk 4-5 in wholesale markets during the peak harvest.

Md Mehedi Hasan, a farmer from Pakshey village in Ishwardi upazila, cultivated five bighas of vegetables, primarily cauliflower, at a cost of Tk 2.5 lakh. "Cultivating one bigha of cauliflower costs at least Tk 60,000, with production costs exceeding Tk 10 per piece. I am worried I won't recover my investment," he said.

Eggplant farmers are facing similar challenges, selling their produce at Tk 350-380 per maund, far below the cost of production. Rising pesticide costs have added to their financial burden.

Farmers attribute their plight to increased production costs and excessive supply. This season, 100-150 truckloads of vegetables typically supplied from Ishwardi's markets have dropped to 50-60 trucks daily, as buyers from other districts stay away.

"Due to last year's profitable vegetable prices, production costs have gone up this year. Lease prices for fields, labour, seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides have all risen," farmers said.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Pabna's vegetable production spans 41,000 hectares, yielding 10 lakh tonnes annually. Around 17,000 hectares were used for winter vegetables this year, targeting 4.4 lakh tonnes, up from 16,855 hectares last year.

"Repeated floods prompted most farmers to grow winter vegetables simultaneously, resulting in oversupply and falling prices," said Md Ashikur Rahman, deputy assistant agriculture officer, DAE, Pabna.