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Yield of beans has surpassed all previous records in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram district in the current season, much to the happiness of the local farmers.
The bumper output has raised a hope of substantially higher profit among the farmers of Sitakunda, an area most prominent in production of various species of beans.
In the previous years, the average bean production here was Tk 1.5 billion (Tk 150crore) but this year the upazila produced beans worth Tk 2.10 billion (Tk 210 crore) hitting an all-time record, according to the local Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) office. Alongside the bumper yield, the farmers have also got fair price of the crop much to their joy.
Farmers and agriculture officials said that beans produced here are being exported to various countries of the Middle East and Europe and United States of America (USA) as well after meeting the domestic demand.
According to sources at the upazila DAE office, Sitakunda is called the region's vegetable storehouse.
Various types of vegetables are grown in the upazila aplenty throughout the year but bean is very prominent and most produced crop here.
A total of seven varieties of beans are cultivated here. Of these, locally popular 'Rupban bean' has been being cultivated during summer for the past few years. Other varieties of beans are grown during the winter.
Mohammed Hasan Ferdous, an environment journalist living in Sitakunda, said special types of soil and favourable environment here are the main factors behind production of premium quality beans in Sitakunda.
"When foggy weather prevails, the quality and taste of beans will be special in the area. The test of beans of Sitakunda is best in Bangladesh. The beans from Sitakunda are being exported to some countries including the USA and Middle East and Europe," he added.
Farmer Sariat Ullah, who cultivated beans on his land, said the cost of producing beans was approximately Tk 80,000, including seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, labour wages etc. In the last one month, he has sold beans worth Tk 0.2 million. Besides, more beans worth taka several lakhs will be sold from his land."
He added there was no disease in vegetable plants in Sitakunda in the current season. "If there was any problem, Pipas Kanti Chowdhury, the deputy assistant agriculture officer in charge here, would tell us what medicine to use."
Another farmer Akber Hossain who cultivated Kartikbata variety bean told The Financial Express, "I have spent Tk 40,000 for bean cultivation. I planted bean saplings late. So the sale started a few days ago. I have sold beans worth Tk 20,000 so far. I can sell more beans amounting to Tk 1,50,000 from my land."