Gopalganj betel leaf growers in need of financial support

GOPALGANJ, July 23: The cultivation of exportable betel leaf is facing setback due to lack of proper attention and patronage of the department concerned.

According to the Agriculture Extension Department (AED), Gopalganj official sources, about 450 bighas of land have been brought under betel leaf cultivation in the district.

About 1000 farmers live on cultivating betel leaf in five upazilas in the district, sources said.

Swapan Bar (34), a farmer of village Kadampur under Muksudpur Upazila in Gopalganj district, told this correspondent that he has cultivated betel leaf on 32 decimals of land.

Some farmers said, if they get easy loan from any bank or any financial support from any sector they will achieve their target on the cash crop.

Suresh Majumder (55), a betel leaf traders of Gopalganj bazar of Sadar upazila told the F.E. if the betel leaf growers get modern agri facilities including economical support, the country will earn huge foreign currency every year.

The cultivators of the district are facing some problems like financial constraints and absence of marketing facilities.

Autul Krishna Mallik, Deputy Director (DD), Agriculture, Gopalganj told the F.E they are trying to bring more land under cultivation of the crop.