MAGURA, Jan 07: A bumper production of cabbage has been achieved in the district this season. But abrupt fall in cabbage price has faded smile on the faces of growers.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Magura sources informed, a total of 340 hectares land was brought under cabbage cultivation in the district. The total production will stand at 1,020 tonnes.
Golam Hossen, a cabbage grower of village Gopalgram under Magura Sadar upazila said, 'this year I have brought my two bighas of land under cabbage cultivation. In the meantime I have earned Tk 5,000 from cabbage. I shall be able to earn more Tk 4,000 from my cabbage cultivation. After that my total earning from cabbage will stand at Tk 9,000. But my expenditure including production cost and transport for marketing will exceed Tk 10,000. In this situation I shall count loss from my crop'.
Mrinal Kanti, a cabbage grower of village Bashkuta under Magura Sadar upazila said, 'Two weeks ago cabbage was being sold in the retail market at Tk 20 per kg. Then we sold cabbage in the whole sale market at Tk 15 per kg. Cabbage is still being sold in retail market at Tk 20 per kg. But we are getting only Tk 5 to 7 from wholesale market for per kg cabbage. Actually middlemen syndicate is dominating the cabbage market depriving us'.
Hurunur Rashid, a vegetable wholesaler in Dhaka road area of Magura town denied the allegation of making syndicate. Every year at this time we send cabbage of Tk 1.0 million to 1.2 million to different parts of country from Magura. But for a few days we are sending almost no cabbage from Magura for lack of demand. Consequently cabbage price has fallen in the local market, he added.
Magura District Marketing Officer Jakir Hossen said the fall of cabbage price is a matter for the time being. Due to transport restriction during election, sending of cabbage from Magura to different parts of the country was hampered. For this the price has fallen for the time being. As vehicles plying returns to normal after election, cabbage price will be increased very soon, he further said
