At least 30 farmers in Chandpur union of Kumarkhali upazila, Kushtia, have turned heads by growing capsicum, a high-yielding vegetable. This season, on the advice of agriculture officers, they have grown the foreign vegetable of the "Indra Gold" variety on about 10 bighas in the Mathpara area of the union's Niamatbaria village.

In the past week about 2,000 kg of capsicum has been sold at Tk 150-200 a kg for about Tk 3 lakh. The farmers say that if the weather stays favourable, the crop could bring a profit of more than Tk 14 lakh this season after costs. With the plants fruiting well and the crop proving profitable, others are dreaming of growing capsicum too.

Farmer Likhon Ali said about Tk 10 lakh had been spent on the 10 bighas, including land lease, seedlings, fertiliser and care. About 2,000 kg was picked in seven days and sold wholesale at Tk 150-200 a kg for Tk 3 lakh. From what is growing in the field, they expect about 14,000 kg more over the next two months, which could easily sell for Tk 21-22 lakh.

The farmers in Chandpur union have an organisation called Jangali Adhunik Krishi Samabay Samity. Its president, Elias Hossain Khasru, grew capsicum on 2 bighas in 2024 on the advice of agriculture officers, spending Tk 2.2 lakh and making about Tk 4 lakh profit. That raised the interest of other members, and 30 of them grew capsicum on 10 bighas at Niamatbaria Mathpara under the Jashore region sustainable agricultural extension project. The crop has a life of 120 days and began fruiting 60 days after the seedlings were planted.

The Niamatbaria Mathpara area lies beside a paved road. There the capsicum is grown using the mulching method inside netting all around. Fruit hangs from the green plants. Farmers work in groups of four or five: some pick, some clean, and others weigh the fruit on modern scales and pack it for market.

Munshi Md Tarikul Islam, a farmer in his sixties, said: "This is the first time capsicum has been grown. It feels very good to see so much fruit on the plants. With good prices in the market, we hope for a big profit."

Farmer Golam Mostafa said that alongside rice, jute, onions and other crops, 30 of them had grown capsicum together this year. For the past seven days the fruit has been picked and sold in Kushtia, Rajshahi, Pabna, Khulna and Dhaka. Because of the good yield, farmers come from far away every day to see it, and they are also giving them advice, he said.

Samity member Nazrul Islam said: "The plants will fruit for the next two months. After that, seedlings of a modern papaya variety will be planted in place of the capsicum."

Razzak Biswas, a farmer from Niamatbaria who came to see the crop, said: "This is the first time it has been grown in the area. Since the yield is good and it is profitable, I will grow capsicum on one bigha next year."

Atiar Rahman, a farmer from Mrittikapara in Kushtia's IU (Islamic University) police station area, came after hearing about the foreign vegetable. He said: "There is no disease on the plants, and it is grown poison-free using mulching. I really like what I have seen and heard. In future I will grow it on 3 bighas."

Samity president Elias Hossain Khasru said: "On the advice of agriculture officers I first grew capsicum on 2 bighas last year, spending Tk 2.2 lakh and making about Tk 4 lakh profit. Seeing me, the members became interested, so this year 30 of us grew it on 10 bighas. Next year we plan to grow it on 25 bighas."

Sub-assistant agriculture officer Abdullah Al Mamun said: "A group of farmers has caused a stir by growing capsicum, a high-value vegetable. With advice, inputs and training from the agriculture office, they have spent about Tk 8-10 lakh and are dreaming of selling Tk 24 lakh worth of capsicum."

Upazila agriculture officer Md Raisul Islam said: "Advice, inputs and training for farmers in growing high-value vegetables and crops are continuing under the Jashore sustainable agricultural extension project."

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