Betel leaf turns into a cash crop for Ishwarganj farmers

 
Betel leaf has become a cash crop for the farmers in Ishwarganj upazila of Mymensingh as there is a huge demand of the betel leaf in home and abroad.  
Because of the increased demand, the farmers of the upazila are showing more interest in betel leaf cultivation, which is bringing financial solvency for them as well.

Farmers have already started commercial cultivation of betel leaf in the upazila. There is an excise among country's people that the hospitality is complete without betel leaf. Therefore, there is a presence of betel leaf in the public of the Benglees. According to the Upazila Agriculture Department, there are betel leaf gardens in 11 unions of the upazila but Jatia, Maizbagh, Sohagi, Tarundia, Barahit and Ishwarganj unions have the highest number of betel gardens.

The total area of the upazila is 107 hectares of land. The number of betel gardens is increasing rapidly as betel growers are earning better through betel leaf cultivation. Now, there are over 500 betel gardens in the upazila. Under the supervision of the local agriculture department, the farmers are being encouraged and given training on proper cultivation of betel leaf.

Upazila Agriculture Officer Sadhan Kumar Guha Majumder said, "Today, betel cultivation has now got the status of high value crop in the upazila due to suitable soil and high yield.""Efforts are being made to expand the variety through the project considering the financial considerations of the betel growers. Besides, a list of special training of betel growers has also been sent to the higher authorities", he added.

--- Md Salim in Ishwarganj, Mymensingh