Coriander leaves worth Tk 5m sold daily from remote chars of Pabna

PABNA, Sept 30: Around 1,000-1,200 maunds of coriander leaves worth Tk four to five million is being sold daily from the Padma Char area of Pabna's Ishwardi Upazila and the primarily winter crop, which is cultivated year-round, is being sent to different districts in the country, including to the capital due to its good quality.

During visits at the remote char areas in Dadapur, Charruppur, Laxmikunda, and Bilkedar, the FE found extensive cultivation of coriander leaves along the Padma River banks. Farmers are loading trucks with baskets full of the washed crop after harvesting.

According to the agricultural office in Ishwardi, Pabna, coriander leaves were cultivated on 70 hectares of land in Padma Char of Ishwardi this year.

Farmers said that coriander leaves, typically used as a spiece in various dishes, have the highest demand compared to any other vegetables in the district. Many of the growers in the area are becoming economically self-sufficient by cultivating the crop.

When the yield is good, farmers can sell coriander leaves at Tk 80,000-100,000 after spending Tk 30,000-35,000 as the cultivation cost.

Chuadanga's Sarojganj Bazar businessman Ariful Islam said they bought coriander leaves cultivated on per bigha of land at Tk 60,000 to 65,000.

"We brought the crop to a tributary river of Padma in buffalo carts. From there, we crossed the river in boats and brought them to the packaging spot," the businessman further said, adding that the packaged yield is being sent to other districts in trucks.

"The coriander leaves are being sent to various districts including Kawran Bazar; Jatrabari in Dhaka; Nimsha in Comilla; Barisal, Faridpur and Madaripur," he added.

Gias Uddin, another businessman from Chuadanga, said, "Coriander is widely cultivated in our district Chuadanga and the neighbouring districts of Meherpur and Jhenaidah. This time, due to heavy rains, the coriander leaves in these districts have been destroyed."

"There was a good yield of coriander leaves in various chars including Charruppur and Dadapur in Ishwardi. So, we are now buying coriander leaves from farmers here per bigha, packaging them, and sending them to various district cities including Dhaka."

Abdul Majid, a farmer from Laxmikunda village of the upazila, said sudden flood has damaged the coriander leaves cultivated on several lands. Still, as the yield is good, the farmers are selling the crop cultivated on per bigha of land for Tk 80,000 to Tk 100,000.

Farmers are selling coriander leaves cultivated on per bigha of land at Tk 70,000-80,000,

Abdul Momin, agriculture officer of Ishwardi Upazila, said, adding that farmers are benefiting from the crop.

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