Loss feared despite bumper yield

A wholesaler pile up a large quantity of bean at Muladuli in Pabna district, right, workers putting into sacks the winter vegetable at the country's largest bean market, for transport to other districts.Photo: STAR

Farmers of the district are optimistic about getting bumper bean production, as the weather remained favourable in the current season.
At least 2,500 hectares of land have been brought under bean cultivation this season and 800 to 1,000 maunds of bean is expected from every hectare, according to a source at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the district.
Some 60 to 70 trucks loaded with bean are going to different places across the country including Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet and Narayanganj every day from 'Muladuli bean zone', the largest bean producing area of the northern region.
Farmers are, however, in fear of getting deprived of reasonable prices as abundant supply and lack of storage facilities have led to drastic fall in price.
The largest bean wholesale market has been established at Muladuli in Ishwardi upazila following the large-scale cultivation of bean in this region. Bean farmers from Ishwardi, Atghoria and other upazilas bring their produces to Muladuli from where the vegetable traders from across the country buy beans.
“Some 1,500 to 2,000 maunds of bean is being traded everyday in this market since last two weeks. We collect beans from the farmers. Later we sell it to traders in different areas of the country,” said Md Sohel, a bean wholesaler at Muladuli market.
Nearly 4,000 farmers have changed their lot by cultivating beans. More people are being engaged in bean cultivation every season.
Vast areas including Atghoriapara, Ramnathpur, Potirajpur, Sobaikandi, Muladuli, Abdullahpur, Bagh Asla, Sheikhpara and Marmipara of Ishwardi upazila, and Bameshwarpur, Alampur, Kakmari, Gopalpur and Rampur of Atghoria upazila have been brought under bean cultivation this year, DAE sources said.
Of the total area, about 1,300 hectares of land in Ishwardi and Atghoria upazilas were cultivated using intensive cultivation method, a special method using less insecticide to get bumper output, the DAE source added.
“I have brought 30 bighas of land under bean cultivation this year as against 25 bighas last year. I am collecting at least 12 to 15 maunds of bean in a weak from one bigha. I expect to get at least 300 maunds from each bigha this year,” said Md Habibur Rahman, a bean farmer of Muladuli.
Due to the lack of preservation facilities, however, the farmers here are often deprived of reasonable price. “The bean sold for Tk 850 to 900 a maund. But the rate suddenly fell last week when I had to sell the vegetable at Tk 200 per maund due to its huge supply,” Habibur said.
“The DAE has taken a plan to set up a specialised cold storage for vegetables in Muladuli. The project is under process,” said DAE Deputy Director Md Zaman Azam.