Farmers in Mirsarai, Chattogram, are becoming self-reliant by growing okra, and the area under the crop is rising year by year. Yields are good again this season. The high-yielding and local varieties are sold in local markets as well as in Sitakunda and various markets in Chattogram city. Prices were low at the start of the season, but farmers are now happy with the prices they are getting.

According to the Mirsarai Upazila Agriculture Office, okra has been grown on about 90 acres in Mirsarai this year, with a production target of 30 tonnes per hectare. By that estimate, the okra from 90 acres is worth more than Tk 3 crore at market prices. Most of it has been grown in Ichhakhali, Mirsarai Sadar, Moghadia, Saherkhali, Wahedpur and Khoiyachhara unions.

Farmers say okra is now a profitable crop. Although it is a seasonal vegetable, it is produced all year round. It suffers fewer pest attacks than other vegetables, and labour and fertiliser costs are relatively low. Women in the household can easily pick the pods, which saves on labour. As a result, farmers do not have to worry about selling it.

Ismail Hossain, a farmer from the South Moghadia Ghona area of Saherkhali union, said: "I have grown okra on about 60 decimals of land. Besides the rural markets of the upazila, I sell in Sitakunda, Baradarogarhat and Chattogram city. It is loaded straight from the field onto pickups. It is selling at Tk 1,200-1,300 a maund. I have been growing it for about 30 years."

Zahirul Islam, a farmer in Khoiyachhara union, said: "I have grown it on about 40 decimals. So far I have sold more than Tk 2 lakh worth, and I can sell another Tk 1.5 lakh. I did not get a good price at first, but for the past few days I have been able to sell at good prices."

Iqbal Hossain Shahin, a farmer from the Charsharat area of Ichhakhali union, said: "This year I have grown okra on one acre. I grow this vegetable every year and have been doing so for about 15 years. This time too I am getting a fairly good price."

Mirsarai Upazila Agriculture Officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "Okra has been cultivated on about 90 acres in the upazila, and the yield is good this time. Production is 25 tonnes per hectare. Cultivation will increase further. No government incentive is given to anyone for growing okra."

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