Home ›› 24 May 2023 ›› Nation
The cultivation of capsicum in Manikganj has exceeded its target during the Robi season in all seven upazilas of the district.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said the capsicum cultivators of the district are showing their maximum interest to cultivate their spicy cash crop observing its high price in the markets.
Now, capsicum is being sold at Tk 110- 120 per kg at the local markets and most of the cultivators started to harvest and those are coming to the markets.
The DAE sources said after onion, capsicum is the most important cash crop to the cultivators of Harirampur, Shibalaya and Ghior upazilas of the district, adding that more than 80 per cent of capsicum grows in those three upazilas of the district.
Ahmad Ali, one of the cultivators of Shakrail under Shibalaya upazila of the district said they have been cultivating green peppers on their lands from generation to generation, adding that some capsicum is cultivated in the same land with onion as the second crop. After harvesting the onion all the green peeper lands are brought under incentive care for the growing capsicum sapling.
Shahidul Islam one of the capsicum cultivators of Jhitka under Harirampur upazila said recent rainfall is the blessing of Almighty Allah and it will reduce the irrigation expenses and expect bumper production.
The DAE office sources said, from May most of the cultivators start harvesting the vegetable from their land if the congenial climatic condition prevails, adding that the harvesting of capsicum has already been started during the current season.
During the harvesting season, a large number of people are engaged in seasonal trading and earn a good amount of money from it.
A large number of wholesalers and retailers come to the areas to collect the capsicum from the cultivators regularly.
Hundreds of trucks run in the areas to collect the green peppers and go to the different places in the country to supply them. Hundreds of labourers, mainly women, are engaged in harvesting the capsicum from the field.
Abdur Rahman, one of the capsicum traders of Barangail Bazar said every day a group of traders visit the local markets and buy green peppers from their godown for supply to different parts of the country. He said five to six people work every day in his shop.
Akkas Ali, one of the capsicum traders, said the capsicum of Manikganj has been exported to some countries in European and Middle-East countries and its markets are being widened day by day.
The DAE sources said they set a target of capsicum cultivation on 3291 hectares of land in the district with a production target of 6615 metric tons during the current season, adding that the fixed target has already been exceeded. The cultivators have cultivated 3541 hectares of land in the district.
