BOGRA, Oct 04: The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has taken initiative for commercial chilli cultivation in the district.
Over 670 hectares of land in all the 12 upazilas have been brought under the farming of the vegetable, DAE official sources said.
In a recent visit the correspondent found the peasants of the region are passing busy time to rear the cropland.
The Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) provided seeds to the growers. Farmer sources said they will start harvesting from December.
"I had cultivated chilli on some 34 decimals of land last year spending Tk 3,400 and made over Tk 30,000 as profit," said farmer Hisam Uddin Tufany, 50, under Kahaloo upazila.
He also said, "This season I have brought around 40 decimal of land under chilli cultivation. Till now my production cost is at Tk 5,000." He expressed the hope that he would able to make a profit of Tk 50,000.
Sub-assistance agriculture officer Azizur Rahman suggested the farmers to take good care of their chilli field this weather.
Meanwhile, our Magura correspondent adds: Green chilli prices shot up in the district. The essential commodity item is now being sold at Tk 200 per kg in the local market.
The DAE sources said a total of 1590 hectares of land were brought under the farming of the vegetable and the total production was 3220 tonnes in the district.
Farmer Taposh Kundu of Tengakhali village under Sadar upazila said, "One week ago we sold green chilli in the wholesale market at Tk 80 per kg. That time the item was sold at Tk 120 per kg in the retail market. Now, the wholesale market price of chilli is still Tk 80 per kg, but it is being sold in the retail market at Tk 200 per kg."
Magura district marketing officer Jakir Hossen admitted that chilli price is high in the local market. He said the authority concerned is monitoring the matter strongly. He expressed the hope that the price will come down within a few days.
