Many farmers in Bholahat upazila of Chapainawabganj district have become self-reliant by growing sweet pumpkin. Pumpkins grown here have met domestic demand and have been exported abroad several times. This season, however, that success has faded, and farmers are being deprived of the market price they expected because of various complications in the export process.

In the Talpalli area of Bholahat upazila, farmers were seen sitting along both sides of the road with pumpkins laid out for sale. With too few buyers, many pumpkins lay unsold, raising their fear of losses.

Masud Rana, a farmer from the Gohalbari area, said he has been growing and exporting sweet pumpkin for the past four years. With exports halted this season, he is suffering financially and is worried because he cannot recover his production costs.

Another farmer, Rabiul Islam, said: "Heavy rain cut production somewhat this season. On top of that, transport shortages, complicated export procedures and weak market management are hampering sales, so we are not getting a fair price."

Munjer Alam Manik, general secretary of the Chapainawabganj Agriculture Association, said: "Unless production processes are improved, storage and the supply chain are strengthened and market infrastructure is developed, export potential will not be sustainable."

Upazila agriculture officer Suntan Ali said: "Changes in the production schedule have also disrupted exports. This season a target of about 50,000 tonnes of sweet pumpkin has been set for Bholahat upazila, with a potential market value of about Tk 100 crore. But unless the export and market crisis is overcome, there will remain doubts about meeting that target."

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