Tangail betel nut growers make a good profit

TANGAIL, Apr 13: Betel nut growers of the district have been making good profit over the last few years.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Tangail office sources said betel nut is being grown on 500 hectares of land in the district this year with around 2,031 tonnes of yield.

The cultivators are delighted as they are getting satisfactory price this season.

A trader of Park Moydan Bazar of the district town Modon Mohan Paul said ripened but raw betel nut is selling at Tk 350 to Tk 450 per hundred as per quality, and dried one at Tk 320 to Tk 450 per kg.

Ahmed Ali of Salimabad village under Nagorpur upazila of the district said that he has a betel nut orchard at his homestead. "I have around 70 plants and make around Tk 15,000 to Tk 20,000 profit every season."

Betel nut farming is easy. It does not require irrigation, fertiliser or insecticide.

A tree gives fruits 10 to 15 years without any nursing.

Two types of betel nuts are available in the local market. One is dried and other one is green. Demand of the dried nuts is more than the green ones, said Md Hafiz Miah of Pakutia village under Mirzapur upazila.

The farmer said betel nut cultivation is popular in all the 12 upazilas of the district. Most of the people grow the item in empty spaces of homestead. For them, it is a source of additional income.

[email protected]