Delduar Upazila of Tangail district is rich in natural biodiversity. Farmers cultivate a wide range of crops throughout the year by matching crop varieties with land type, season, and local ecological conditions. Crops are grown on plains, high lands, medium-high lands, low lands, and homestead areas, ensuring year-round agricultural production.

Both men and women contribute significantly to agricultural production. However, women play the central role in preserving agricultural biodiversity by collecting, drying, cleaning, storing, and conserving seeds. The continuity of local seed wealth largely depends on their knowledge and practice.

Nayakrishi farmers primarily use organic manure and follow seasonal crop rotation while maintaining their own seed stocks and exchanging seeds through Nayakrishi Seed Akhras.

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Seasonal Cropping Pattern

Nayakrishi farmers cultivate crops according to three major agricultural seasons:

• Rabi Season
• Kharif-I Season
• Kharif-II Season

Besides seasonal crops, several vegetables and fruit crops are cultivated throughout the year.

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Crops in the Field During Late March

During late March, Rabi crops are nearing harvest while sowing of Kharif-I crops has already begun in the following villages:

• Nanduria
• Gorashin
• Binduria
• Nallapara
• Goziyabari (Atia Union)
• Mushuria (Elashin Union)

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Major Rabi Season Crops

The important Rabi crops include:

• Wheat
• Grass pea
• Barley
• Water gourd
• Common bean (Shim)
• Sweet potato
• Onion
• Garlic

At this period:

• Wheat, barley and grass pea are almost ready for harvest.
• Onion, garlic, mustard, lentil and tomato have already been harvested.
• Common bean remains in the homestead gardens at the mature fruit stage.

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Major Kharif-I Crops

The principal crops grown during Kharif-I are:

• Sweet gourd
• Brinjal
• Bitter gourd
• Snake gourd
• Chili
• Little cucumber
• Red amaranth
• Indian spinach
• Sponge gourd
• Ash gourd
• Arum
• Okra
• Aus rice
• Jute

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Crops Available Throughout the Year

Several crops remain available throughout the year, especially around homesteads and nearby high lands.

These include:

• Brinjal
• Papaya
• Banana
• Lemon

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Banana Cultivation

Farmers grow several local banana varieties including:

• Sobri Kola
• Sagar Kola
• Chapa Kola
• Plantain

Banana is generally planted during the Bangla month of Chaitra (March–April).

To maximize land use, farmers cultivate companion crops between banana rows, such as:

• Brinjal
• Chili
• Stem amaranth
• Sweet gourd
• Okra

Many banana orchards are currently in the fruit-bearing stage, and harvesting has already begun.

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Lemon Cultivation

Lemon trees are grown mainly on high land.

Common local varieties include:

• Elachi
• Colombo

At present the trees are flowering and fruiting, with the main harvest expected within 20–25 days.

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Climber Vegetables Around Homesteads

Most farming households cultivate climbing vegetables around their homes, including:

• Water gourd
• Sweet gourd
• Common bean (Shim)
• Ash gourd
• Sponge gourd
• Indian spinach
• Snake gourd
• Ridge gourd

Seeds are usually sown near the house and supported using bamboo poles, tree branches, or even rooftops.

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Community Seed Conservation

One of the unique characteristics of Nayakrishi farming is community seed conservation.

Farmers:

• Preserve seeds in their own household seed stores.
• Deposit a portion of their seeds in the Nayakrishi Seed Akhra.
• Collect seeds from the Seed Akhra during shortages.
• Multiply quality seeds for both household use and additional income.

This decentralized seed system strengthens local biodiversity and reduces dependence on commercial seed markets.

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Sowing and Harvesting Calendar

Crop	Time of Sowing / Transplanting	Time of Harvest
Wheat	Late October – Late November	Mid March – Early April
Grass Pea	Late October	Mid – Late March
Barley	Late October – Mid November	Mid – Late March
Sweet Potato	Late October – Mid November	Mid April – Mid May
Brinjal	September – October	February – April
Snake Gourd	January – February	April – June
Onion	October – November	March – April
Garlic	October – November	March – April
Common Bean (Shim)	July – August	October – March
Sweet Gourd	November	January – April
Water Gourd	August	November – April
Stem Amaranth	February	March – April
Little Cucumber	October	January – April
Red Amaranth	September	November – January
Bitter Gourd	October	February – May
Indian Spinach	February	March – August
Sponge Gourd	February – March	April – October
Ash Gourd	February – March	April – October
Okra	February – March	April – October
Jute	March – April	July – August
Arum	February – March	April – July

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Benefits of Seasonal Cropping

Season-based crop cultivation provides multiple benefits to Nayakrishi farmers.

• Ensures year-round food production.
• Improves household food security.
• Maintains crop diversity.
• Conserves indigenous seed varieties.
• Generates cash income through seed multiplication.
• Surplus crops are sold in local markets, Shashya Sundar (Tangail) and Shashya Prabartana (Dhaka).
• Reduces dependence on external agricultural inputs.

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Conclusion

The Nayakrishi farming system of Delduar demonstrates how ecological knowledge, seasonal crop planning, organic farming, and community seed conservation can sustain agricultural biodiversity while improving rural livelihoods. Women’s leadership in seed preservation, together with farmers’ traditional knowledge, continues to strengthen food sovereignty and ecological resilience in the region.