Shariatpur has long been known for growing coriander, a spice crop. With coriander in demand in the market for several years, cultivation is increasing across the district. Low production costs and good prices have pushed the area beyond its target. Farmers are demanding lower fertiliser and pesticide prices so they can make a better profit, while the agriculture department says it will stand by them with advice to raise production further.

According to the district agriculture office, coriander is grown to some extent in all six upazilas of the district. As a rabi crop the spice has drawn a strong response. Because production costs are somewhat low and market prices high, farmers in the area have been turning to coriander for several years, and the land under the crop grows day by day.

Last season the district's target was 6,056 hectares and 6,280 hectares were cultivated. This season the target was set at 6,280 hectares, but cultivation has risen to 6,320 hectares.

In the fields, the crop is now covered in a white sheet of coriander flowers, and bees move from flower to flower in the sweet scent. Farmers are busy tending their land. Local farmers say the yield has been very good this season thanks to favourable weather, and with market prices good they hope to sell at high prices. They want the government to cut fertiliser and pesticide prices.

Hare Ram Kulu, a farmer in Rudrakar area of Sadar upazila, grows other crops every rabi season but this time has grown coriander separately on 30 decimals of land. He is happy with the yield. Asked about the profit, he said: "It costs Tk 150 per decimal for coriander, and when I sell I get Tk 300 to 400. There is a lot of demand for coriander in the market. We are doing well from growing it."

Another farmer, Dhiren Majumder, said: "There was a time when we did not get a price for coriander at the market. Often we had to bring it back home. For several years now there has been huge demand, so most of us farmers are growing more coriander than other rabi crops."

Although market prices are good, farmers regret the rising prices of fertiliser and pesticide and say profits would be a little higher if the government lowered them. Nesar Sikder, a farmer, said: "If fertiliser and pesticide were cheaper in the market, we would earn well from coriander. We would be grateful if the government looked at our side and brought these prices down."

The district agriculture department says it will continue to motivate farmers and give them advice so the crop continues. Rafiqul Islam, additional deputy director of the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said: "The soil of Shariatpur is suitable for coriander. Costs are low and demand in the market is good, so farmers are increasingly turning to it. The agriculture department is giving them advice and all kinds of support."

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