Farmers in Bhandaria upazila of Pirojpur have found success by growing sesame and producing honey on 100 bigha of land for the first time. They have already made a profit of Tk 1.5 lakh from honey. Some 50 to 60 farmers in the upazila are involved, most farmers who have seen the crop have shown interest in growing sesame, and the upazila agriculture department is helping.

On a visit to Gouripur union in Bhandaria, 130 bee boxes stood in rows beside the sesame fields, with thousands of bees from them competing to collect nectar from the flowers. The blossom has given the whole field a festive look.

The initiative has drawn a wide local response. With help from the upazila administration and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), about 50 to 60 farmers have grown the BARI-4 variety of sesame. Cost per bigha is about Tk 5,000 to 6,000, and if the crop is harvested properly there is a chance of a profit of Tk 25,000 to 30,000 per bigha.

Five members of a beekeeping team were brought from Barguna and set up 130 hives in Bhandaria, in a garden next to Ariful Islam's house. There, 8 maunds of honey were collected in one go and sold for Tk 1.7 lakh, and the beekeeper said the profit after costs was Tk 1.5 lakh.

Babul Hawlader, a farmer in Gouripur union, said: "All these fields used to lie empty. Last year I grew sesame on some land and made a profit. It costs Tk 5,000 to 6,000 per bigha. At sale time the crop from each acre can be sold for Tk 25,000 to 30,000. Seeing this profit, many farmers this year talked to the agriculture officers together, and they gave us a lot of advice. This year a few of us together have grown sesame on about 100 bigha. Alongside sesame, honey production is extra income."

Sesame farmer Md Shajahan said: "We first started with a demonstration on 1 bigha. Because it made a profit, this year we have grown sesame on about 100 bigha. Even though it costs Tk 5,000 a bigha, we will be able to sell the crop from each bigha for Tk 25,000 to 30,000. Honey is being produced along with the sesame, and with the two together we are doing very well."

Beekeeper Shahidul Islam Rana said: "Sesame has been grown on 100 bigha here. This year I brought 130 bee boxes and produced 8 maunds of honey from them, with a market value of Tk 1.8 lakh to Tk 2 lakh. It cost only Tk 30,000 to produce the 8 maunds. My profit is around Tk 1.5 lakh."

Bhandaria upazila agriculture officer Md Nazrul Islam said: "Sesame and honey have been produced on 100 bigha in this field. Farmers will be able to make a profit of around Tk 40 lakh this year from selling sesame alone. In addition, 130 hives have been set up, and selling their honey can give a profit of Tk 1 lakh to Tk 1.5 lakh after all costs. Next year sesame farming will spread to all upazilas. The agriculture department will always stand by farmers."

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