SYLHET, Sept 24 (UNB): The farmers of Biswanath upazila have achieved a big success in coriander farming, generating employment for many in the region.
Ever since its introduction, its trend has been upwards, thanks to its high market value and significant profit margin.
Among spices, coriander is considered to be culinary herb.
Coriander is being cultivated on about eight acares of land in different villages under Alankari Union, including Munsirgao, Manukopa, Palgao and Betsandi.
The success in its cultivation has brought self-sufficiency among many poor families, prompting many to think big.
Visiting different areas, the UNB correspondent found that the farmers were busy attending the corianders, collecting leaves and planting coriander seeds.
Abul Kalam, a coriander farmer in Munsirgao, said he could not go beyond the 10th grade in school, neither could he try his luck by going abroad.
But after witnessing several coriander farmers in his village, he tried doing the same and has not looked back since then.
He said that it takes Tk 70,000 annually as coriander farming expenses. After selling them, his profit margin ends up at a hefty amount of Tk 0.11 million.
Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, another farmer in the region, said the seed beds need to be prepared within the Bengali month of Falgun, after which the seeds are planted by Chaitra-Baishakh period.
After 15-20 days of plantation, they need to be sold off, he added. Approximately Tk 6,000 worth of coriander can be sold a day.
