Farmers in Mirsharai upazila of Chattogram have grown pulses on a large scale this season. With good weather they expect a good harvest, and many have already taken the crop home. Good profits every year mean the area under pulses keeps growing. Land that carries only one crop lies empty after harvest, and mung is grown on it. Pulses are said to be in strong demand in local markets.

According to the Mirsharai upazila agriculture office, various pulses have been grown on 6,077 hectares across the upazila's 16 unions and two municipalities. Of this, mung covers 2,750 hectares, felon 2,550 hectares, khesari 750 hectares, lentil 18 hectares, pea 6 hectares and mashkalai 3 hectares. Saherkhali union has the largest area.

In the Domkhali area of Saherkhali union, the char lands are covered in pulses, with mung vines swaying in the wind. Many farmers were carrying the harvest away; some were picking with their families.

Bimal Chandra Das, a farmer from the Charsharat area, said he grew mung on 3 acres this year. The yield is good and he has already sold some in the market.

Jane Alam, a grower from North Durgapur in Durgapur union, said: "I have been growing various pulses alongside other crops for about 20 years. Every year I meet my household's needs and sell the rest in the market. I am hopeful of a good profit this time too."

Large mung markets are held at Baradarogahat, Abutorab, Mithachhara and Aburhat bazars in the upazila. Besides local buyers, wholesalers come from Dhaka, Chattogram and other cities.

Locals say all kinds of pulses are profitable, giving high yields at low cost. The crop needs little irrigation, though weeds must be cleared from time to time. But if rain hits the fields before harvest, the crop may be damaged.

Mirsharai upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said pulses have been grown on 6,077 hectares across the 16 unions and two municipalities this year. The soil here is well suited to pulses, so the area is growing year by year, and the agriculture office gives growers all kinds of support.

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