BOGURA, Nov 24: Low market price, despite ample production, has disheartened chili growers in Bogura district this season. Each maund of the spice is being sold at Tk 500 to 600 against Tk 700 production cost.
They had made a good profit the previous year, said farmer Hazifur Rahman Bhanduria village under Dupchanchia upazila. This season they are achieving bumper production but low market price has dampened all hopes, he added.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office the farmers of Dupchanchia, Kahaloo, Adamdighi, Shibganj, Sherpur, Sonatola, Gabtoly, Sariakandi, Nandigram, Shajahanpur and Sadar upazilas of the district have brought over 12,000 hectares of winter chili this season.
DAE said the authority concern is expecting to produce over 0.1 million tonnes of fresh chili output this if the weather prevail favourable.
The moderate climate is boosting good yield among the farmers, said sub-assistance agriculture officer of DAE Faridur Rahman. We are giving necessary suggestions to the farmers to make the programme a grand success, he added.
In a recent visit the correspondent found the farmers are taking care at the chili farm defying rough weather from early in the morning to late at night. The growers of the area are seen happy over good sight of the sapling.
"I have cultivated chili on 12 decimal of land spending Tk 9.0 thousand this season hoping for good profit," said farmer Hakin Hossain at Piganj village under Sadar upazila. "I am getting bumper production but low market price gives me pain." he added.
DAE official said the district has immense prospect to grow the lucrative spice chili round the year. Present market price has created a setback among the farmers, he added.
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