Field after field of brinjal is being grown in the Tilli, Chartilli and Partilli areas of Manikganj. Because the soil and climate suit the crop, farmers are getting bumper yields, and good market prices have put smiles on their faces. As a result, brinjal cultivation is growing steadily.

According to the local agriculture office, brinjal was grown on 1,085 hectares in the district last year, and officials expect this year's target to be exceeded. Saturia upazila grows the most vegetables in the district, on 1,050 hectares. Of that, 431 hectares are under brinjal alone, including 340 hectares in Tilli union.

Farmers in Saturia's Tilli area told Jagonews24 that most farmers in the area are turning to brinjal and the area under the crop is rising every year because it earns more for less cost. They said about 22,000 kg of brinjal leaves the Tilli area every day for various places, most of it for Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal. Although retail prices are high, farmers are getting Tk 20-30 a kg.

Farid Hossain of Chartilli village said: "This year I grew brinjal on 3 bighas. It cost about Tk 1 lakh. So far I have sold about Tk 1.5 lakh worth, and I hope to sell another Tk 1 lakh worth."

Sonamuddin Bepari of Partilli village said: "Vegetable prices in the market are high, but we don't get much. We get no more than Tk 20-30 a kg for brinjal now. As soon as it changes hands, the price doubles in the market."

Robin Hossain of the Tilli area said: "Chartilli and Partilli villages grow the most brinjal in our area. Every day about 22,000 kg of brinjal goes to different districts from Chartilli market alone. Even though vegetable prices are high, we sell brinjal at Tk 20-30 a kg."

Dr Rabiah Nur Ahmed, deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), told Jagonews24: "Last year brinjal was grown on 1,085 hectares in the district. We expect this year's target to be exceeded. Seedlings are still being planted in some places. Some vegetables are grown across the whole district, but brinjal is grown most in Sadar, Singair and Saturia upazilas. Rain caused a little trouble early on. Later, with advice from agriculture officers, farmers looked after the crop well and are now getting fairly good yields. Yields will rise as the plants age. Being a district next to Dhaka, farmers are also getting good prices."

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