Chili growers of Rajshahi are passing busy time in nursing the farmlands as many chili plants were damaged due to hailstorm this year.
However, farmers then planted new saplings to compensate the losses, and the plants have started to grow chili.
The District Agriculture Extension Directorate has set up a target of chili cultivation in more land than the previous season's achievement as there is a huge interest in cultivating chili among the farmer.
In last year, chili was cultivated 1 thousand 737 hectares of land. This year, the target has been estimated at 1 thousand 865 hectares. So far, the cultivation has been on 1 thousand 550 hectares. Farmers are still planting chili saplings.
Chili growers and traders of Paba upazila said that the farmers have planted chili in more lands because last year they got a good profit as there was a good chili production.
The price of chili was good from first to last in last year. At the beginning, farmers got 25 to 30 taka per kg of chili and the rate rose up to 95 taka and at last 120 to 180 taka. Last year, the price was good as well as the yield.
But this season, the farmers have got sad at the start of the season as many of the chili plants were damaged due to hailstorm. But planting new sapling will not harm them so much. The farmers said they will see the face of profit if the price is better this year.
Majibar Sarkar, a farmer of Teghar village of Paba upazila said previously, chili sapling was planted within the Bengali month of Ashar. But this year, it is being planted earlier as the water of deep tube wells are available.
Afaz Uddin Sarker, a farmer of the same village, said that he planted about 15 thousand chili plants in his field. At the beginning of plantation, half of chili plants were damaged due to hailstorm. He has then planted new saplings. However, he is expecting a good yield this year.
Paba upazila Agriculture Officer AKM Manjur Mollah said that chili trees are usually damaged by heavy rains. At the beginning of this season, the chili trees have somehow lost due to hails. The farmers have planted the chili seedlings again. So, this year the yield will be good.
Director of District Agriculture Extension Department Dev Dulal Dhali said that some plants have been damaged by the hail, but it cannot be called a catastrophe. At present the farmers have planted chili saplings again. He hoped that this year the yield will cross the target.
AIMD
