Capsicum farming is becoming more popular by the day on the isolated chars of Bhola, and cultivation has grown again this season, by 15 hectares compared with last season. Farmers did not profit much last season because of natural disasters and low market prices. This season, with no natural disasters, the yield has been large. With market prices now three to four times higher than last year, farmers are dreaming of bigger profits.

On visits to the isolated Majher Char in Kachia union of Bhola Sadar upazila and the isolated Madanpur union of Daulatkhan upazila, fields were full of capsicum. Some farmers, working in groups, were busy tending fields and picking capsicum, smiling at the prospect of good profits.

Md Siddique and Monir, capsicum farmers on Kachia's Majher Char in Sadar upazila, said their fields have yielded heavily this season. There has been little disease or pest attack, so they have not had to use much fertiliser or pesticide, and their costs have been somewhat lower than before.

They said that last season, shortly after planting, storms and rain destroyed the crop. Replanting raised their production costs, and they did not get good prices at market either.

Md Sirajul Islam and Md Nirob Dhali, capsicum farmers in Madanpur, Daulatkhan upazila, said they have been getting Tk 100 to Tk 120 a kg at wholesale markets in Dhaka since the start of the season, and hope to earn more by selling capsicum this time.

They said the two, farming separately, have grown capsicum on 3 acres. Land lease, seed, fertiliser, pesticide and labour together cost about Tk 7 lakh an acre. So far Sirajul Islam has sold Tk 20 lakh worth and Nirob Dhali Tk 18 lakh worth at Dhaka's wholesale markets. With the capsicum still in the fields, Sirajul Islam expects to sell Tk 25 lakh more and Nirob Dhali Tk 30 lakh.

Farmers Md Sahabuddin Faraji and Abu Kamal said that last season they got Tk 20, or at most Tk 50, a kg at wholesale, and made little profit; many farmers made a loss. This season they are getting two to three times the earlier price and expect to profit more.

They said that because capsicum is a profitable crop, the area and the number of farmers on the chars grow every year. They have planted 2 to 3 acres more this year than last. They say they will profit even if they get a minimum of Tk 50 a kg at wholesale.

Md Hasan Warisul Kabir, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Bhola, said the department is working to expand capsicum cultivation in the district and make farmers self-reliant. Sub-assistant agriculture officers in the field are always helping and advising farmers.

He said capsicum was grown on 74 hectares in Bhola's seven upazilas last season and on 89 hectares this season: 28 hectares in Bhola Sadar, 42 in Daulatkhan, 15 in Charfasson, and 1 hectare each in Borhanuddin, Tazumuddin, Lalmohan and Manpura.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.