A farmer spraying insecticide of his eggplant field at Nimtullapur village in Himayeetpur union of Pabna Sadar upazila- FE Photo PABNA, Dec 05: Local farmers have taken initiative to grow eggplant aplenty in all nine upazilas of the district as vegetables sell at the skyrocketing prices in the markets.
However, Ishwardi and Pabna Sadar upazilas of the district are the largest hubs of brinjal production. But, farmers do not get the fair price of their produce.
Farmers allege that they sell eggplants at Tk 35 to 40 per kg, but the price at the consumer level is Tk 70 to 80 per kg. Wholesalers and retailers have doubled its price.
Every day, 10 to 12 trucks of eggplants are delivered from Ishwardi's Alhaj and Pabna Sadar upazila's Krishnadiar Mandal-Shanikdiarto Dhaka's Karwan Bazaar, Jatrabari, Sylhet and Feni and others places.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), 1,301 hectares of land have been brought into eggplant production in the district.
Locals said marginal farmers sell vegetables to local wholesalers who sell them to retailers through middlemen.
Retailers sell them again at the consumer level, so their prices go up, they add.
Vegetable prices have not dropped remarkably despite the arrival of winter vegetable in markets. Eggplant is being sold at Tk 70-80 per kg.
Abdul Khalek Sarder, a farmer from Nimtullapur village in Pabna Sadar upazila, said, "What we will do if the prices of vegetables go up in the market. We're selling eggplant at Tk 35-40 per kg.
"This year I've planted eggplants on two bighas of land. The total cost of the farm including fertiliser, labour and medicines is Tk 1 lakh, but I expect a profit of about Tk 1 to 1.15 lakh.
A wholesaler, Maud Rana, said that he bought eggplant from farmers at Tk 35 to 40 per kg.
They are selected and eaten by insects and bad brinjal are thrown away.
Idris Al Mamun, a wholesaler at Pabna bazaar, said about 1,000 tonnes of eggplants sells every day from here. We continue to sell at a limited profit, excluding transportation.
Dr Jamal Uddin Janan, deputy director of Pabna DAE, said, "Three varieties of eggplants - Soyla, Lafa and Iri - are cultivated on 1,301 hectares of land in the district."
Ishwardi and Pabna Sadar upazilas are famous for eggplant yield.
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