Betel leaf falling off trees
Betel leaf growers in the district are facing losses as the leaves droped from the trees due to intense cold and heavy fog this season.
“I have to face huge losses due to dropping of the betel leaves,” said Donbosco Khonglah, a betel leaf farmer of Meghatila punjee under Kulaura upazila of the district.
Not only Donbosco, but most of the Khasi growers are also in the same situation.
During this correspondent's recent visit to betel leaf plantations in Meghatila punjee in Kulaura upazila, farmers said about 10,000 betel cultivators in Kamalganj, Kulaura, Sreemangal, Rajnagor, Juri and Barlekha upazilas left cultivation in recent years due to the uncertainty caused by the weather.
Mithilda Bareh, a betel leaf farmer of No 7 punjee in Barlekha upazila, said betel-leaf production in punjee areas under Sylhet region faces setback because of the cold spells. As such, farmers are always worried about getting back their investment.
Assistant Prof Monirul Islam of the Department of Plant Pathology and Seed Science at Sylhet Agriculture University said betel leaf farming is more profitable than many other crops if it is grown properly.
Betel leaf grown in the district has tremendous demand at home and abroad for its quality and flavour, and the demand is increasing day by day, he added.
Deputy Director Department of Agriculture Extension Mohammad Shahjahan said, “The betel leaf is locally known as 'Khasi paan' and is very much in demand in the Sylhet region. The leaves can grow properly if the weather is dry with sufficient sunlight and flow of air. We did not set a target for Khasi betel leaf in the area as very few growers are cultivating it this season.”
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