Bombay chilli cultivation brings good profit

A good number of farmers in Patuakhali, Barguna and Jhalakathi districts are engaged in commercial cultivation of Bombay chilli on around 1,000 acres of land.

Bombay chilli is cultivated on commercial basis in 16 out of 19 villages of Atghar-Kuriana union under Swarupkathi upazila, said Md Shahidullah, upazila agriculture officer of Swarupkathi.

"Around 5,000 seedlings are planted in an acre of land and each plant bears 150 to 200 chillies in the dry season. Each hundred chillies are sold for Tk 30 to 50 in local market. It is a very low-cost farming," he said.

Most farmers bring Bombay chillies to Kali Mondir haat (village market) at Jendakathi village of Atghar-Kuriana union on Fridays and Mondays every week.

Bombay chillies worth Tk 10 lakh to 15 lakh are sold on each haat day in the season from January to June. It is also available during the rest of the year, although in less quantity, said Md Humayun Kabir, leaser of the hat.

"I buy about 3 lakh chillies on every hat day and supply it to different areas including capital Dhaka. I buy per hundred chillies for Tk 25 to 40 in the main season and Tk 70 to 80 in off season," said Sukesh, a wholesaler.

Bombay chilli cultivation bears bright prospect in the region as the soil and weather are very favourable, said Khondakar Sirajul Karim, additional director of the Department of Agriculture Extension in Barisal.