Yardlong bean farming has changed the fortunes of many farmers in Mirsarai, Chattogram. Yields have been good this season, and farmers are pleased that prices are also better than in other years. The upazila agriculture office says this will make farmers keener to grow the crop in future.

According to the upazila agriculture office, yardlong beans have been grown on 220 acres in various unions of Mirsarai, known as one of the country's vegetable baskets. Both local and hybrid types are grown, with more local beans this year. Farmers are currently selling wholesale at Tk 45-50 a kg, against Tk 22-25 at this time last year. Retailers buy from farmers and sell to ordinary shoppers at Tk 70-75.

The beans are grown in Karerhat, Hinguli, Zorarganj, Durgapur, Mirsarai Sadar, Khaiyachhara and Wahedpur unions of the upazila, with the most in various parts of Wahedpur union.

At the home of Saifullah in the Madhyam Wahedpur area, beans were being tied into bundles of one kg each, with neighbours helping family members.

Saifullah said he sold 350kg of beans at market last week at Tk 45 a kg. So far this season he has sold at five markets and can keep selling for another month. On Mondays and Thursdays he sells to wholesalers at the upazila's Baradarogarhat market.

Mohammad Khansab, a farmer in Talbaria, said: "Growing yardlong beans takes a lot of labour. The yield is good this year, and so is the price. It cost me Tk 27,000 to grow beans on 25 decimals this time. I've sold about Tk 55,000 worth, and I can keep selling for another 20-25 days."

Farmers pick the beans, tie them in bundles and take them to Mithachhara, Baratakia, Baradarogarhat, Sitakunda, Barabkunda and Shuklalhat markets. The biggest market is held at the 200-year-old Baradarogarhat, where wholesalers from various places buy and take the beans by truck to Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet and other districts.

Wahedpur union parishad chairman Fazlul Kabir Firoz said: "My union is especially suited to vegetable growing, so farmers grow large quantities. If the upazila had cold storage, farmers could store vegetables and get good prices."

Sub-assistant agriculture officer Kazi Md Nurul Alam said: "Yardlong bean cultivation in Mirsarai has increased compared with the past few years. It has been grown on about 220 acres. With good prices, cultivation will increase."

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