The farmers of the Panchagarh district are happy as they are getting bumper production of chilies and its high price in the local markets.
Due to favourable land conditions and suitable weather, chili cultivation in five upazilas of the district is gaining popularity among the farmers.
According to the sources of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Panchagarh, chilies were cultivated on 4,000 hectares of land this year.
Now, a maund of green chili is being sold around Taka 5,000 at the wholesale markets. It was beyond the expectation of the farmers. A farmer can produce at least 25-30 maund chili from one bigha of land.
Chilies hat is set in Debiganj of the district every day. Traders from different parts of the country come to the hat and purchase chilies from the wholesale markets and supply those to different places including Dhaka.
Mentionable, farmers have started harvesting green chilli from the first week of May and it will continue till July.
Soleman Ali, a chili farmer in the district, said, "Agriculture has come to us as blessing. The Department of Agricultural Extension has provided all necessary support to us. So, farmers of the district had been earning good profit from chili cultivation on a commercial basis for the last couple of years."
Soleman has cultivated chilies on two bighas of land and earned Taka three lakh by selling those.
Meanwhile, farmers of the district are getting fair prices of paddy and maize also.
