Farmers of several unions of Bera upazila of Pabna are being increasingly interested to cultivate betel leaf due to the huge demand, congenial climate, suitable soil and a wholesale market for bargaining and sales of betel leaf. Though betel leaf was being cultivated in some villages for a long time, now more and more farmers are being inclined in betel leaf farming because of its demand and profit.
It is learnt, betel leaf is cultivated in the villages of Jatsakini, Roop Pur and Aminpur unions of the upazila. Naba Das has been cultivating betel leaf for generations at Jatsakini village. He informed, his father and forefathers had been cultivating betel leaves for generations and he is also following the tradition.
At the first stage, betel leaf was cultivated at the same Baorj (a shade of sticks where betel leaf grows for years) but now betel leaf cultivation is being increased in new land mass. He informed, there are now at least 30 betel Leaf Boroj in Sinduri and Nayabari area of the upazila.
Ratan Das of Sinduri village informed, betel leaf is a sort of creeper and no seed or sapling is required to cultivate this plant rather it is cultivated by transplanting cutting of the top of creepers in the soil. The betel leaf can be harvested within six to eight months of transplanting of the creepers. Betel leaf can be procured from a plant for more than three years.
Betel leaf farmers Sukumar, Iman Ali and Hechen Ali informed, taking care of land and the plant is the main way to success of betel leaf cultivation. Required fertiliser is needed to be applied in the soil in due time and irrigation is required during the dry season.
No government assistance is rendered to betel leaf farmers even none of the officials from the department of Agriculture ever visited the betel leaf growing villages of the upazila. They informed, a farmer is required to invest Taka 300,000 for preparing a bigha of betel leaf farm but we always remained in panic and risk because we have none to suggest what to do during any damage of the betel leaf plants due to infestation of diseases or for any other reason.
Sub-Assistant Agriculture officer of Bera Yousuf Ali informed, betel leaf is being cultivated on 5.06 hectares of land in the upazila. He mentioned, officials of agriculture department often visit the betel leaf growing areas of the uapzila but no government assistance is given for betel leaf farming, he added.
Wholesale betel leaf traders Toton Saha, Goutam, Bishnu and Gopal Mitra of local betel leaf markets informed betel leaf amounting Taka 300,000 to 400,000 is sold at the local hat every week and the quantity would grow further as the amount of cultivation of betel leaf is being increased gradually in the upazila.
