Sajna boon for growers

Sajna is a boon for its growers  of two upazilas in the district as they are getting high price for this seasonal, highly nutritious vegetable. 

A large wholesale market for drumstick, locally called sajna, has been set up at Bagjana in Panchbibi upazila.

“Sajna produced in Panchbibi upazila is famous across the country for its unique taste and nutritious value,” said Md Rubel, who runs a wholesale shop.

During a visit to the wholesale market last week, this correspondent saw traders from different districts gathered there to buy sajna. Most of them were from Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal, Kushtia, Faridpur and Bhola. Trading starts in the wholesale market early in the morning every day.

“The price is reasonable this year compared to last year,” said Dulal Mia, a trader from Barisal.

Sajna was selling at Tk 2,500 per quintal (100 kg), traders said.

Each full grown sajna tree can yield more than 300 kg of sajna a season.

Panchbibi Agriculture Officer Mahbubar Rahman said there is no commercial sajna orchard in Panchbibi and Kalai upazilas. Villagers started planting sajna trees around their homesteads considering the nutritional value of the vegetable, he added.

Farmers in those upazilas said sajna tree does not require anything when it starts flowering at the end of November, said Rafiqul Islam of Panchbibi upazila, adding, “You can earn money without almost any investment. I have sold sajna worth Tk 48,000 this season,” he added.

The soil and weather of the upazila are very favourable for farming the vegetable. Many people are now planning for commercial sajna orchards in the upazila due to the rising demand across the country. “Many people of the upazila have already earned solvency growing sajna,” said Mahbubar.

Drumstick is rich in calcium, minerals, iron, protein, carbohydrate and different vitamins, the agriculture officer said, adding that the leaves of a sajna tree can be used as herbal medicine to prevent and cure different diseases.