Chilli cultivation turns bane for Magura farmers

MAGURA, June 7: Chilli profit is going through the roof in Magura.
During a visit to Gangnalia, Akhsi, Bashkuta and Ramnagar market under Magura sadar upazila green chilli was seen to be sold at Tk 50 per kg. The price is high, but farmers are deprived of the price as they have no chilli in store at present.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Magura, informed, a total of 223 hectares of land was brought under chilli cultivation in the district this year. Harvesting was completed one month ago. The total production was 3.92 tonnes.
When contacted, Razzak Ali, a chilli farmer of village Aldhani under Magura Sadar upazila said, "Chilli is being sold at Tk 50 per kg in the local market at present. But I have sold my chilly one month ago at Tk 15 per kg. My earning from chilli did not cover my production cost."
Wahab Mondal, a farmer of village Nanduali under Magura Sadar upazila said, middlemen have stored chilli purchasing from us at low price by making syndicate. At present chilli is under the occupation of the middlemen. Consequently chilli profit is going to the pockets of middlemen rather than to the farmers.
When contacted DAE Magura official Noabul Alam said farmers are still selling chilli. However, he admitted chilli price was low one month ago.
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