A haat that lasts two hours and turns over about Tk 70 lakh: that is the betel-leaf market at Pakundia in Kishoreganj, Krishi Shomoy's Kishoreganj correspondent reports. Held on Saturdays and Wednesdays for years, it draws betel growers from the upazila and its neighbours and wholesalers who carry the leaf to markets across the country.

Trading at Pakundia municipal betel market begins before first light, with growers laying out leaf fresh from the vine, buyers bargaining and wholesalers filling sacks and vehicles, and it is over before mid-morning. In those two hours the Patmahal market sells Tk 60-70 lakh of betel leaf; in winter, when demand and prices rise, a single haat tops Tk 1 crore. Leaf arrives on heads, vans and auto-rickshaws and leaves by auto-rickshaw and pickup for Dhaka, Gazipur, Katiadi, Narsingdi and Mymensingh.

The upazila agriculture office says betel is grown on about 65 hectares in Charfaradi, Egarasindur, Hossendi, Narandi and Sukhia unions and in Baratia, Hijlia, Lakshia and Syedgaon in the municipality, producing the Lal Dingi and Gayesur varieties all year. Wholesalers say Pakundia's leaf is of good quality, those two varieties especially sought after, and easy transport brings distant buyers regularly. A good kuri (20 bira, a bira being 120 leaves) currently sells for Tk 4,000-4,500.

Trader Shubha Chakraborty, who runs his own wholesale yard, buys at Pakundia and sells in Katiadi, Bhairab, Narsingdi, Karagaon and Nikli; the range of varieties and grades has kept him dependent on this haat for years.

Upazila agriculture officer Nur-e-Alam said betel is a profitable crop that earns farmers income all year, which is why its area keeps growing, and the department is advising and supporting growers.

Reporting: Kishoreganj correspondent, Krishi Shomoy.

Source: Krishi Shomoy