Bogura green chillies capitalise on India supply gap

BOGURA, Feb 15: Bogura's famously pungent green chilies are carving out a growing presence in international markets, capitalising on a supply gap created by India's withdrawal from key Middle Eastern export destinations.

Over the past three months, about 1,500 tonnes of green and dried chilies from the northern district have been exported to 14 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Malaysia, exporters and officials familiar with the development told the FE.

The shipments are valued at roughly Tk 8.0 billion ($66 million), highlighting the rising commercial potential of horticultural exports in a country still heavily reliant on garments.

"India used to control the Middle Eastern green chili market, but exports from there have stopped," said Md Belal Hossain, a member of the Bangladesh Vegetable, Fruit and Betel Leaf Exporters Association.

"That has opened a window for Bogura's chilies, which are now gaining strong acceptance in the Gulf."

Export cartons branded "Green Chilies of Bogura, Bangladesh" are increasingly visible in overseas wholesale markets, signalling a push by Bangladeshi traders to establish origin recognition.

Export volumes peak between November and March, when around 10 exporters ship an average of 5,000 tonnes of green chilies abroad each season, they mentioned.

Belal Trading, one of the exporting firms, has shipped 42 tonnes of green and ripe chilies-known locally as topa-in the past three months. "The chilies stand out for their intense heat and consistent quality," said M Belal Hossain, the company's proprietor.

"In Malaysia, demand for ripe chilies is effectively unlimited." The export surge is feeding directly into farm incomes.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bogura produced about 32,000 tonnes of chilies this year across 8,000 hectares.

Roughly 24,000 tonnes were sold fresh from fields, reflecting strong export demand.

Farmers say the new trade routes are improving both prices and logistics.

Exporters and spice processors are increasingly purchasing chilies directly from farms, often providing advance payments and reducing farmers' dependence on wholesale markets.

"I sold nearly 100 maunds of chilies from my field in a single day and earned Tk 100,000," said Thanda Mondol, a farmer in Gabtali Upazila.

"Prices have been favourable throughout the season."

At hubs such as Jalshuka and Subod, chilies are packed into five- to seven-kilogramme cartons and transported directly to Dhaka's airport.

Traders say exports from these markets have reached record daily volumes, supporting hundreds of jobs in sorting, packing and transport.

Md Motlubur Rahman, deputy director of the Bogura, DAE, said the export drive was encouraging farmers to focus on quality and compliance.

"To sustain access to global markets, we are discouraging excessive pesticide use and promoting better seeds and balanced fertilisers," he said.

As Bangladesh seeks to diversify exports ahead of its graduation from least-developed-country status, officials see Bogura's chili boom as a modest but telling example of how agriculture could play a larger role in the country's external trade.

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