Low prices of betel leaf leave Rajshahi growers in distress

RAJSHAHI, Aug 22: Betel leaf growers in Rajshahi are struggling to recover their production costs as prices of fertiliser, pesticides, oilcake, irrigation and farm labour have increased while market prices of betel leaves remain low.

Many farmers are being forced to sell their produce at a loss, leaving them deeply frustrated.
The situation was evident during a visit to Mougachhi betel leaf market in Mohanpur, one of the largest wholesale markets for the crop in Rajshahi, on Sunday morning.

In Rajshahi, 64 betel leaves make one bira, while 32 bira make one poa. Currently, small-sized leaves are selling for Tk 10-25 per bira, depending on quality, while larger leaves fetch Tk 50-60.

Farmer Md Ershad of Mohanpur said, “We cannot keep betel leaves in the boroj (betel leaf enclosure). I expected at least Tk 15 per bira, but buyers are offering Tk 10. I am suffering heavy losses from cultivating betel leaves on one bigha of land and cannot support my family.”

Another farmer, Md Ziaul Islam, said a price of Tk 35 per bira was needed just to recover costs.
“Now we are getting only about one-third of that price. Forget making a profit, we are selling the leaves simply to get some cash in hand,” he said.

Md Sohel Rana said it costs around Tk 100,000 to build a boroj and plant seedlings on one bigha of land. Another Tk 100,000 is spent throughout the year on maintenance, fertiliser and pesticides.

“So, although the annual cost is around Tk 200,000, it has become difficult even to sell Tk 100,000 worth of betel leaves at the market,” he said.

Md Yamin Ali of Trimohoni said he spends around Tk 50,000 a year cultivating betel leaves on 10 kathas of land.
“Farmers will find it difficult to survive unless they get at least Tk 50 per bira,” he said.

Traders Md Mainul Islam, Md Tajibar and Taibur Rahman, who send betel leaves to wholesalers and markets in Panchagarh and Dhaka, said prices depend largely on supply and demand.

“Prices usually fall during the monsoon because supply increases,” they said.

However, farmer Mizanur of Durgapur said prices could rise to Tk 80-90 per bira from Kartik to Chaitra when production falls during the winter.

“But the profits made during this short period cannot make up for the losses incurred during the rest of the year,” he said.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension in Rajshahi, the target for the current year is to cultivate betel leaves on 520 hectares and produce 86,824 tonnes.

Last year, the crop was cultivated on 4,509 hectares, producing 79,681 tonnes, according to the department.
Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Deputy Director of the DAE in Rajshahi, said prices had fallen somewhat due to bumper production and increased supply during the monsoon.

“However, we hope farmers will get better prices in other seasons,” he said.