Chilli farming receives a boost on northern Chars

BOGURA, Dec 04: Farmers in different Char (shoal) areas of the northern region, especially Sirajganj, Bogura, Pabna, Rangpur and Gaibandha districts, are opting for chilli farming expecting higher yield and profit.

Some renowned spice processing companies of the country have been collecting chilli from here for the last few years offering reasonable prices.

Good yield of chilli and development of communication in the area prompted the companies to collect the spice from the region. Silted land of different shoals is suitable for chilli farming.

On the other hand farmers are getting reasonable prices due to high demand of chilli in the country's markets.

The companies that collect chilli from the northern region include Square, ACI and PRAN.

The soil of different shoals including those of the Jamuna River are suitable to produce chilli aplenty due to silt accumulation every ever for flooding.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), farmers normally cultivate local and hybrid species of chilli on their lands for the span of time from October to March every year.

Farmers are also able to harvest chilli from their fields after 60 to 70 days of planting saplings.

They can harvest chilli once in a week and it continues for about three months.

This year, about 5,650 hectares of lands have brought under chilli cultivation in 12 upazilas of Bogura district with a production target of 16,102 tonnes.

Chilli has been cultivated on 1,456 hectares of land in nine upazilas of Sirajganj district with a production target of 3,204 tonnes.

Similarly, DAE has set a production target of 20,850 tonnes of chilli from 2,050 hectares of land in Rangpur district.

Of the total, a bulk amount of chilli has been cultivated in Shariakandi, Sonatola and Dhunot upazilas of Bogura district; Kazipur, Chowhali, Belkuchi, Shahzadpur and Sirajganj Sadar upazilas of Sirajganj district; and Pirganj, Mithapukur, Taraganj, Gangachara, Kawnia, Badarganj, Pirgachha and Rangpur Sadar upazilas of Rangpur district.

Md Motlubur Rahman, deputy director of the DAE, Bogura, said, "Farmers in the region face difficulties every year due to massive erosion by different rivers including the Jamuna. Vast tracts of cropland are devoured by the rivers every year putting the farmers at risk of losses.

But, floods bring delight for sometimes. Siltation caused by flood makes the shoal lands fertile in which there is no need to use huge proportion of fertilisers and pesticides."

Amzad Hossain, 42, a farmer of Chargodagari village in Shariakandi upazila of Bogura district said, "I got 100 mounds of red chilli last year by cultivating four bighas of land. This year, I have got 120 mounds of chilli from the same land. Half of the chilli has already been sold to a spice producing company with a good price. I have now decided to cultivate chilli on more land in future due to such good yield and profit."

Solaiman Ali, 35, a farmer of Nischintapur Char in Sirajganj district said, "Most of our Char land becomes uncultivable due to emergence of sand. But, such types of land are appropriate for chilli farming. This is why most of the farmers in the region cultivate chilli on their land after recession of flood water instead of cultivating other crops."

Billal Hossain, 32, another farmer of Tekanir Char in the same district said, "I have earned Tk0.2 million (2 lakh) this season by selling chilli in the market. This year, price of chilli breached record reaching Tk1,000 per kg. Still now, the price has not become stable. It came down to Tk200 from Tk60 per kg after a few days for various reasons. So, chilli cultivation has now become a profitable part of living for the Char people."

Bablu Kumer Sutradhar, deputy director of the DAE, Sirajganj, said, "Farmers of shoal areas like to cultivate chilli on their sandy land due to cheaper cost than other crops. Besides, bumper production of chilli with low cost makes them so much interested. If the trend continues, northern region may turn into a hub of chilli business in future."

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