MANIKGANJ, June 15, 2019 (BSS)- Green pepper cultivation in Manikganj district is increasing sharply as the vegetable is being exported to some Middle eastern countries.
Three upazilas of the district — Shibalaya, Harirampur and Ghior — are the main green pepper cultivation area. The pepper cultivators of the district achieved a bumper production during the current season and they are happy to get reasonable prices of their products.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a huge volume of green pepper is being exported to Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Qatar every day from Barangail Haat through some Exporting Agencies.
While visiting Manikganj district, hundreds of growers are seen at Barangail haat selling their produced green pepper.
It was found that some group of people was piling up cartons of green pepper in their godowns for exporting abroad.
Tajuddin, Director of ‘Tajuddin Enterprise’ said he has been trading green pepper for more than twenty years. Since last few years, some green pepper traders have been exporting it to the foreign countries including Middle East. He said the green peppers of Bangladesh have a good demand in the international markets for its quality. Like Tajuddin, Jahurul Huq,Mofazzal Hossain and Shafi Mia, go down owners are exporting the vegetable to middle east.
Over hundreds of trucks are engaged in supplying the green peppers to the different markets of the country including Kawran bazaar, Bokshi bazzar of Dhaka, Comilla, Noakhali and Chattagram daily. Though the haat of Barangail is held twice a week on Monday and Thursday, but during this season the Barangail haat is held every day.
A good number of middle men are doing this seasonal business and earning good profit, the sources said.
The DAE sources said a total of 3469 hectares of land were brought under pepper cultivation during the current season in all seven upazilas of the district with a total of 27,752 metric tonnes of production target.
Of the total, 1671 hectares were brought under pepper cultivation in Shibalaya upazila, 892 hectares in Harirampur upazila, 550 hectares in Ghior Upazila, 125 hectares in Singair upazila, 116 hectares in Manikganj sadar upazila, 65 hectares in Daulatpur upazila and 50 hectares in Saturia upazila.
The Department of Agriculture Extension sources said the soil of Shibalaya, Harirampur and Ghior upazilas of the district are suitable for pepper cultivation. The farmers of these areas are producing good quality pepper and the vegetable has huge demand at both local and international markets.