Cultivation of chilli gaining ground in Narsingdi char areas

NARSINGDI, June 4 (BSS): Chilli cultivation is gaining ground in Narsingdi char areas. Successful yield of chilli brings substantial amount of money to the farmers.
About 1,000 poor farmers in the river basin 20 char villages of Sadar, Belabo and Raipura upazilas of the district have involved themselves in chilli cultivation for long years considering its economic aspect and they have achieving economic self-reliance.
According to Department of Agriculture extension (DAE) office Narsingdi, about 1,000 acres of fertile char lands, mainly in three upazilas of the district have been brought under the chilli cultivation this year.
The lands beside the Meghna and Arial khan rivers were filled with silt (Palli) earth during the monsoon which is favorable to the chilli farming.
Correspondent of the news agency recently visited the char villages of Sadar, Belabo and Raipura Upazilas and saw farmers are busy plunking of chilli from the fields with much enthusiasm.
Abdul Kader a fortunate farmer of Mirja char village of Raipura upazila said four to five mounds of green chilli might be plunked from a bigha of land in a week. During the whole season chilli may be plunked 10 to 12 times from a land.
Talking to the news agency Abdul kader said he had undergone hard days along with his family members before ten years ago as the Meghna devoured his lands.
He said he was devastated periodically and started cultivating chilli by taken leased two bighas char lands which cost him Tk 5,000.
He got over 76 mounds of green chilly and earned about net profit Tk 65,000 by selling green and dry chilli that year. He is very happy now as a regular yearly income began him by cultivating chilli. He expressed his happiness over the farming of chilli during the last ten years and told economic prosperity brought him social recognition.
Like Abdul Kader, a number of farmers in different upazilas narrated their success story in cultivating chilli.
Deputy Director, DAE Narsingdi Lota Pad Hossain said with the necessary help and logistic support of the Department of Agriculture Extension huge quantities of chilli are being produced in 20 char villages of Narsingdi Sadar, Belabo and Raipura upazilas of the district.
He said chilli farming have brought about a revolutionary change in the char economy of the district.