Sarwar Selim (35), who returned from Malaysia, has succeeded in growing chilli using mulching and pheromone yellow traps. He grew Bijli Plus-2020 on 48 decimals of land and has sold Tk 3.5 lakh worth of chilli. He hopes to sell another Tk 2 to 2.5 lakh worth.

Sarwar Selim lives in Halzai Shaltala village in Ranipukur union of Biral upazila, Dinajpur. He grows chilli on 48 decimals beside a paved road, and earlier had success with bitter gourd.

The chilli field lies beside the Halzai-Jhinaikuri paved road. The plants are full of flowers and chillies. Instead of the conventional method, mulching and pheromone yellow traps have been used. This method produces a crop in a very short time at low cost, with fewer pest and disease attacks.

Growing chilli this way in the monsoon, Sarwar Selim has scored a big success, and many others are following his example.

Sarwar Selim first learned about farming by watching YouTube. Then, on the advice of the Biral upazila agriculture officer, he began growing bitter gourd and later monsoon chilli. He hopes to earn Tk 6 lakh from chilli in one season.

"I was in Malaysia for seven years and came home last October," he said. "I started growing bitter gourd and chilli with mulching. I have finished the bitter gourd field and am now busy with chilli. Growing the chilli cost Tk 1.4 lakh. I will sell at least Tk 6 lakh worth. I have already sold Tk 3.5 lakh."

"The plants will last another two months, and in that time I will harvest six to eight times," he said. "That way I can sell another Tk 2.5 to 3 lakh worth. This year I sold to wholesalers at a maximum of Tk 220 and a minimum of Tk 120 a kg."

The method has many advantages. Mulching is especially useful for conserving moisture: water in the field does not evaporate quickly in the sun and wind, so the soil does not dry out and much less irrigation is needed. Mulching can conserve about 10 to 25 per cent of soil moisture. Pheromone yellow traps protect the chilli field from harmful insects.

"If you farm the traditional way of our fathers and grandfathers, you will not succeed now," Sarwar Selim said. "You have to farm smartly. You need to know when which crop will fetch a good price and when to plant it. Only then is success possible."

Chilli wholesaler Khairul Islam said: "I bring chilli from various districts and sell it from the wholesale market at Bahadur Bazar. I have bought 2020-variety chilli from Sarwar Selim four times. Chilli is usually scarce in the monsoon, so prices stay good. Selim got good prices too. This time I bought chilli from him at up to Tk 230 a kg."

Botanist Shariful Islam Sharif said: "Growing chilli in the monsoon takes courage, because rain kills chilli plants. Sarwar Selim has succeeded by using modern methods. There is no doubt he has had great success and will profit financially."

Upazila agriculture officer Mostafa Hasan Imam said: "Sarwar Selim was an expatriate in Malaysia. After returning last year he came to us for advice on growing chilli, bitter gourd and other rabi crops, and we gave him all kinds of advice. This year he has had great success, and following his example many others are now interested in growing chilli."

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