Shariatpur has long been known for growing coriander, a spice crop. With strong demand in the market, the area under the crop has been growing across the district for several years, and low production costs and good prices are drawing more farmers to it every year. The agriculture department says it will stand by the farmers with advice to raise output further.

According to the district Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), coriander is attracting a strong response as a rabi crop in Shariatpur. This season's target for the district was 6,056 hectares, and coriander was grown on 6,280 hectares.

Local farmers and a field visit show the fields now covered in a white sheet of coriander flowers, with bees drawn to their sweet scent. Farmers are busy tending the crop in different parts of the district. Favourable weather has produced a good yield this season, and with market prices strong, farmers hope to sell at high prices. They also want the government to support them with fertiliser and seed.

Sadananda Daria of Rudrakar in Sadar upazila has grown coriander on 20 decimals of land this season. After a good yield and a good price last season, he increased his area this year, and his crop has again done well.

"Because coriander has been profitable, I have grown it on more land than last year. The yield is very good this time. I hope to make a good profit this year too, and I want to grow it on even more land in future," he said.

Another coriander farmer, Moti Bepari, said: "The coriander market is very good. It sells for Tk 5,000 to 6,000 a maund. That is why we think coriander is better than other crops. Coriander farming in our area is growing day by day."

A farmer named Joydeb said: "The market for coriander is very good and it is in great demand when we take it to market. The yield is also very good. If the government arranged fertiliser and pesticide for us, we would profit even more."

Mostafa Kamal Hossain, deputy director of the district DAE, said: "Coriander is now a brand of our Shariatpur. Farmers are profiting from this spice crop. We encourage farmers to keep growing it and give them various advice. We also inspect markets so that farmers get a fair price for coriander."

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