Home ›› 11 May 2023 ›› Nation
Farmers are happy with the prices of dried chilli at the famous Dighirpar Haat (weekly market) of Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila this season.
Farmers from different districts including Shariatpur, Chandpur, Madaripur and Faridpur bring their dried chillies to this market for sale.
The chilli trade goes on from dawn till noon. According to the farmers and traders, about 1.2-2 maunds of chilli worth Tk 1.5-2 is sold per market day.
The market, situated by the Padma River, is about a hundred years old. However, due to river erosion, the haat had to shift several times. It still sits by the river as transport via boat is cheaper and easier in the southern region.
Once there were only a few wholesale chilli shops here, but the count has now gone over 50.
The market is popular among local farmers and businessmen of the riverine Char areas of Munshiganj. Especially during the Bengali months of Chaitra and Baishakh, business booms in Dighirpar chilli market.
During an on-spot visit to the market on Monday, this correspondent found chilli trade going on in full swing. Farmers and traders sit in stalls with their sacks of dried chilli in front of them.
According to some farmers who came to trade at the market, chilli has been cultivated in large quantities in the area this season. Due to favourable weather, the yield has also been good.
However, a lot of farmers sold their green chilli instead of drying them due to getting good prices. So the supply of dried chilli is less than usual. But the prices are good.
According to the quality and size, dried chilli is being sold for Tk 190-370 in the shops of Dighirpar market.
Sharif Molla, a farmer in Dighirpar area, has been selling dry chillies from his farm in this market for the last 25-30 years.
“This year I got some 40-45 maunds of chilli from my farm whereas last year I got over 70 maunds of chilli. I was worried about the prices, but I was relieved to find the prices are good this year,” he said adding that he can cover the production costs with the profit.
Another farmer, Badol Mijhi brought about 32 maunds of dried chilli to the market for sale. “I prefer selling my products at Dighirpar haat because the prices are always fair here. The buyers prefer the haat because they get good quality products here,” he said.
Jashim Chowdhury of Narayanganj buys some 1,500-2,000 tonnes of dried chilli per season from Dighirpar haat. He then later sells them to different shops in the district.
“I bought good quality dried chilli for Tk 400-460 per kg earlier this season. The ones being sold now are smaller in size and paler in colour. These are being sold for Tk 200-370,” said Jashim.
The trader further added that the prices are higher than last year. “I prefer buying from this market because the farmers and traders are honest here. They do not trick buyers by mixing bad quality products underneath the good ones,” he said.
Kashem Bepari, a farmer in Shilai area, said, “Due to extreme foggy weather during winter, the yield of chilli was less than usual this year. But farmers were saved from facing losses as the prices of dried chilli are good this year.”
Samsul Islam, the shopkeeper of Molla Enterprises of this market, said the shops at the market only remain open from early morning till noon every Friday and Monday.
“Our shop sells chilli worth Tk 15-17 lakh per market day. In this market, there are about half a hundred small and big traders like me,” he said.
Rafizal Mollah, General Secretary of Dighirpar Bazaar Committee, said the weekly chilli market is famous all over the country.
“People from many districts come here to trade. Over 1 to 1.5 maunds of dried chilli worth Tk 1.5-2 crore is being sold per market day. The price is determined according to the size, colour and type of pepper,” he added.
Tongibari upazila Agriculture Officer Zainul Alam Talukdar said Dighirpar market is not only Munshiganj-centric.
“People from different districts come to this market to sell pepper. Green chilli has a short shelf life, so being able to dry and sell them at good price benefits the farmers,” he said.
