Home ›› 15 Nov 2022 ›› Nation
Farmers in Pabna’s Iswardi upazila have already started selling the early variety of carrot in local markets while farming of seasonal carrots are also in progress.
This year production cost for cultivating carrots in each bigha of land increased by Tk 5,000-Tk 7, 000 due to spiralling cost of labourers, seed, fertiliser and agricultural equipment, claimed local farmers.
Officials of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), however, said that market price of carrots has increased significantly which will secure additional profit for the farmers this year.
According to upazila DAE sources, carrot was cultivated on 845 hectares of land in Iswardi last year and 850 hectares of land in the current season. Early variety of carrot is already available in the local markets and the price is also fair.
DAE officials said the soil of Ishwardi is very fertile and high which is suitable for carrot production. Besides, carrot cultivation requires less labour and fewer diseases affect the plants. As a result, the production is much higher.
Moreover, the demand and supply of carrots in the market is constant throughout the year. So, there is no possibility of incurring loss in cultivating the vegetable. Day by day the cultivation of the vegetable is increasing in the upazila day by day.
Farmers said the yield of carrot is satisfactory this year. They are selling carrots directly from the fields at reasonable price.
Carrot was cultivated in Dashuria, Lakshmikunda, Sahapur, and Salimpur areas of Ishwardi this year.
Farmer Bhuttu Mia cultivated carrot on 17 bighas of land in this season spending Tk 8 lakh. He has reaped 100-120 maunds of carrot from per bigha of land.
In reply to a question, he said that compared to last year, the cost of carrot seeds, fertilisers, labour wages are higher this year which increased the production cost a lot. However, compared to last year, they are getting higher prices this year.
He said, “We will get satisfactory profit if the current market price of carrots sustains; otherwise, drastic price fall may incur losses for farmers.”
High prices of seeds, fertilisers and labour swelled the production cost comparatively this year and they are also selling carrots in high price this year, he said, adding that,
Bangabandhu gold medal winning farmer Jahidul Islam cultivates vegetables on his 30 bighas of land and other leased lands every year. “I cultivate carrots and corn on a total of 250 bighas of land every year; 20 to 30 labourers work on my lands round the year.” he said.
“Last year I made a handsome profit cultivating carrot on 100 bighas of land and this year I am cultivating the vegetable on more than 100 bighas of land,” Jahidul said.
Already he has cultivated carrot on 70-80 bighas of land in the last three months which will continue till the end of November. Early variety of carrots is currently selling at fair prices in the local markets, he said.
He has harvested 100 to 200 maunds of early variety of carrot from per bigha of land this year. “Besides selling the in the local markets, I have preserved a portion of the yield in a cold storage in Dhaka from where carrots will be sold during the next six months,” Jahidul told The Business Post.
“This year production cost for per bigha hiked from Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000; but, hopefully, that will not hinder the profit if I can sell carrots at high prices,” he added.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said carrot cultivation is usually profitable and per kg carrot is not below Tk 50 in the wholesale markets.
Despite increased production cost, farmers received high yield this year. Besides, retail and wholesale prices of carrot are also high. There is no possibility of incurring loss, even if the farmers sell the produce at wholesale price, she added.
