Favorable weather and strong market prices have brought joy to betel nut growers in Cox’s Bazar this season. With a bumper harvest, local farmers are not only meeting domestic demand but also supplying to other districts — including Dhaka and Chattogram — and even exporting to several Middle Eastern countries.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), betel nuts were cultivated on 3,120 hectares of land across the district this season, and yields have exceeded expectations. Traders note that due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, imports through the Teknaf land port have nearly stopped, leading to higher demand and prices for local produce.
The largest betel nut market in the district is located at Sonarpara in Ukhiya. Despite the market’s official twice-weekly schedule, wholesalers from various parts of the country now frequent it almost every day.
Dr. Bimal Kumar Pramanik, Deputy Director of the Cox’s Bazar DAE, said, “The absence of cyclones and sufficient rainfall this year has resulted in an excellent yield, and farmers are receiving fair prices for their produce.”
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
