Pirojpur Correspondent:
The commercial cultivation and production targets of Bombay chilli at seven upazilas here have exceeded the previous records.

A total of 732 hectares of land in the upazilas have been brought under its cultivation. Meanwhile, many people have become self-reliant through farming the chilli variety in recent years.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) source said, the farmers here mainly cultivated local ‘Fonimonsha’ and high yielding – ‘Jamuna’ ‘Shakata’, and ‘Major’ varieties of Bombay chilli. The cultivation target was 694 hectares, and the production target was 1,045 metric tons of dried chilli. But, they cultivated the varieties on more 38 ha of land, and the production target was exceeded by 53 MT of dried chilli.

Seven years ago, Ripon Hawlader started commercial farming of Bombay chilli at Swarupkati (Nesarabad) upazila of the district. Seeing his success, other farmers of neighbouring villages started its cultivation.

The villages – Madra, Adabaria, Mahmudkathi, Sultanpur, Nanduhar, Boldia and Sutiakathi in Swarupkathi upazila are well-known for Bombay chilli production.
Ripon Hawlader said, he cultivated Bombay chilli on 12 acres of land in last winter season and after meeting all costs, his net profit was more than Tk one lakh.

His uncle Asim Hawlader also started Bombay chilli farming after seeing his success and is also happy to see the production and price rates. Around 500 farmers of 24 villages under Swarupkathi upazila have become self-reliant through cultivating Bombay chilli.

Swarupkathi Upazila Assistant Agriculture Officer Rathin Gharami said, at least 1,500 pieces of Bombay chilli are produced in per decimal of land and 1,000 pieces of chilli is sold at Tk 800 to 900.

Every day 3/4 mini tucks loaded with Bombay chilli are sent to Dhaka wholesale markets during the harvesting season.

The Bombay chilli is produced mainly in Swarupkathi, Mathbaria and Nazirpur upazilas of the district. In this monsoon, 531 hectares of land were brought under Bombay chilli cultivation in the three upazilas.

Deputy Director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) here Abul Hossain Talukder said, after preparing seedbeds in September the seedlings are planted in October, and in June the chilli is harvested.

He added that they are inspiring farmers to cultivate Bombay chilli side by side with cultivating guava. It is considered as cash crop in the district, he added.

Source: The Daily Observer