Green chilli prices have hit a record low this year in Khulna, Magura, Sylhet and Lalmohihat districts compared to the last five years.
Our Correspondent from Khulna reports: After a recent visit, it was found that green chilli was being sold in Khulna retail markets at Tk40 per kg whereas it was being sold at Tk30 per kg in the wholesale markets.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), green chilli was sold in the wholesale market at Tk180-200 per kg in 2020, at Tk200 per kg in 2021, at Tk 400 per kg in 2022 and at Tk 110 per kg in 2023. This year it is being sold at Tk30 per kg.
Additional Director of the DAE, Khulna Zone Mohon Kumar Ghosh said, "The price was high during that period because production fell due to heavy rainfall."
He further said," Green chilli farming is gradually increasing in Khulna agricultural region as it is a profitable venture and the crop has a huge market demand."
"Farmers have been producing chilli along with other vegetables round the year enormously for a long time in this region," he added.
Over 593 tonnes of green chilli is expected to be produced from 216 hectares of land in Khulna district during the current Robi season, DAE official sources said.
DAE official said that the reason for the low price in the market was bumper production of the crop for favorable weather this season.
Salek Gazi, a farmer of Dumuria Upzila, said that green chilli farming brought smile to farmers in the district; but they are unable to make profit due to its low price in markets.
Our Correspondent from Magura writes: Green chilli price has fallen in the district largely.
The highest price of green chilli in the retail market was Tk150 per kg in 2020 while Tk250 in 2021, Tk 200 in 2022, Tk 100 in 2023 and Tk 80 per kg in 2024.
When contacted, district agricultural marketing officer Mohammad Atik said, "Our survey reveals the highest price of green chilli was in 2021 within 5 years. However, green chilli price is reasonable this year."
Due to close monitoring by the government agencies, common people could purchase chilli at affordable prices during Ramadan.
Our Sylhet Correspondent reports: A recent monitoring found that the market price of green chili was not that hight at the beginning of Ramadan. Agricultural marketing officials also echoed the same.
According to the DAE sources, green chili was available at Tk25 to Tk 35 per kg on wholesale market against Tk 40 to Tk 60 at retail market in 2020 while in 2021 it was Tk 45 to Tk 65 at wholesale markets and Tk 60 to Tk 80 at retail markets.
In 2022 the wholesale rate was Tk50 to Tk 60 against Tk 60 to Tk 70 at retail level. In 2023 wholesale rates ranged from Tk 55 to Tk 65 with the retail price at between Tk 60 and Tk 80. However, it was between Tk 25 and Tk 45 at wholesale level and Tk 40 to 60 at retail level this season.
Contacted, the senior agricultural marketing officer, Sylhet district, Humayun Kabir, told this correspondent with the better yield for consecutive years, chili price has been almost stable in the region.
Notably it has been found that the farmers in the haor areas were albeit more interested amid the last year's increased demand for the crop.
Our Lalmonirhat Correspondent reports: This year the price of chilli is lower than the previous year. According to the DAE, the wholesale price of per kilogram chilli is only Tk 20 at present while it was Tk160 to Tk 200 last year.
According to the DAE, the river basin areas of Bogura, Gaibandha, Rangpur and Lalmonirhat districts are famous for green chilli. The chilli fields are normally damaged due to water-lodging. But this year there was no rain and weather was very much favourable for chilli fields.
Visiting to some areas of sadar upazila, it was seen that farmers were plucking green chillies from the fields.
Asked why the price was lower, Robiul Islam, a farmer of Mogolhat, said that huge production was the main reason of lower price.
He said that last year he sold chilli for Tk8,000 per mound (40 kg) but this year it is only Tk800.
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