Traders busy selling betel nut at a market in Kachua upazila of Bagerhat district - FE Photo KHULNA, Dec 10: The farmers of Kachua and its adjacent areas in Bagerhat district have achieved a bumper production of betel nut.
But, they have alleged that they are not getting fare price of their betel nut due to the import of betel nut from abroad.
Local traders and farmers are incurring loss as betel nut is being imported in huge quantities from abroad.
During a visit, it is found that Badhal Bazar is famous for 'supari' trade.
Kabir Sheikh, president of the Badhal Supari Business Association, said they have been involved in the betel-nut business for a long time.
The price of 'supari' has decreased this year to over Tk 100 per kg. The size of betel nut is smaller than that of the previous years.
On a visit to the betel-nut market in Kachua upazila, this correspondent found that per kuri (213 pieces) betel nut was being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 750 depending on the size.
Betel nuts are sold here for more than crores of taka weekly, said traders, adding that over 50 wholesale traders buy betel nuts on 'haat' days.
The traders send the supari to the wholesalers of different districts, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Rangpur and Dinajpur.
In Kachua upazila of Bagerhat, about 6,514 tonnes of betel nuts are produced on 1,210 hectares of land annually. They are also sold in Badhal, C&B, Tangrakhali, and Gajaliya haat of the upazila. Apart from Kachua, more betel-nuts are produced in Morelganj and Sadar upazilas of Bagerhat.
Betel nutsre also produced in Fakirhat, Chitalmari and other upazilas of the district.
About 25,000 tonnes of betel nuts are produced on about 5,525 hectares of land in the district every season.
Betel nut farmer Abul Kashem said he has cultivated 'supari' on 15 bighs of land. He earned profit of about Tk 10 lakh annually. This year the target of better-nut yield has been achieved.
Many farmers of the upazila got inspiration from him in betel-nut cultivation.
Workers Altaf, Samsur and Jafar said the haat sits twice a week. Each of them gets Tk 5/6 for sorting supari per kuri (213 pieces).
Kachua upazila agriculture officer Shyamol Krishno Roy said about 5,500 growers in the upazila are involved in betel-nut farming.
This year the betel-but production has increased due to favourable weather.
But, if saline water intrusion through Taleshwar sluice gate in Kachua is prevented, the production of betel nut will increase more.
To boost betel-nut production, farmers can use organic fertilisers in its orchards, he said.
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