The betel nut markets of Ukhiya and Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar have turned golden this season, thanks to a bumper harvest that has brought smiles to the faces of garden owners. Locally produced betel nuts are not only meeting domestic demand but are also being exported to the Middle East.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Ukhiya’s Jaliapalong, Ratnapalong, Holdiapalong, Palongkhali, and Rajapalong unions together have 950 hectares of betel nut plantations. Teknaf’s six unions have another 1,260 hectares. This season, the production target for the two upazilas has been set at 40,780 metric tonnes.
The largest betel nut hubs in South Cox’s Bazar are Sonarpara Market in Ukhiya and Shaplapur Market in Teknaf.
A visit to Sonarpara Market on its weekly bazar days—Sunday and Wednesday—reveals piles of golden-hued betel nuts brightening the entire marketplace.
Md Salamat Ullah Kalu, president of the Sonarpara Pan–Supari Traders’ Association, said wholesale buyers from across the country flock to Sonarpara to purchase betel nuts.
“Truckloads of nuts are transported to Dhaka, Chattogram, Rangpur, Sylhet, Jashore, and Satkhira. Each market day sees transactions worth over one crore taka,” he added.
Trader Ali Akbar Sawdagar said betel nuts from Ukhiya–Teknaf are highly valued in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Middle Eastern countries. “Exporters are sending betel nuts abroad, contributing to the inflow of foreign currency,” he said.
Ekhlaçur Rahman of Inani village, who owns 40 decimals of land with 450–530 betel nut trees, said the good harvest allowed him to sell nuts worth about Tk 4 lakh this season. According to trader Ali Akbar, a pon (80 nuts) is selling for Tk 500 to Tk 600.
Apart from Sonarpara, bustling betel nut markets are active in Kutubdia, Morichya, Rumkha, Ukhiya Sadar, Kutupalong, Balukhali, Thaingkhali, and in Teknaf’s Shaplapur, Jahajpura, Shilkhali, Hoaikyang, Hnila, Teknaf Sadar, Shahparirdwip and Sabrang—at least 15 markets in total.
Mojammel Haque, general secretary of the Sonarpara Pan–Supari Traders’ Association, said more than 64 villages—including Inani, Nidania, Monkhali, Madarbunia, Sonarpara, Jaliapalong, Sonaichhari, Valukia and Tuturbil—have seen excellent yields this season.
“Garden owners are happy with both the harvest and the market price,” he noted.
Officials report that Ukhiya and Teknaf annually buy and sell betel nuts worth Tk 200–220 crore.
Ukhiya Upazila Agriculture Officer Kamanasis Sarkar said favourable weather, the use of modern agricultural methods, and proper maintenance contributed to this year’s record harvest. “Production has surpassed last year’s target,” he said.
Teknaf Upazila Agriculture Officer Humayun Kabir added that farmers are being guided on modern planting techniques, storag,e and overall cultivation practices.
Garden owners reported that harvesting started in October, with the peak season expected to last until February.
Dr. Bimal Kumar Pramanik, Deputy Director of the Cox’s Bazar Agricultural Extension Department, said betel nut is becoming a major cash crop in the region. “This crop has opened up strong local economic prospects. Encouraged by positive profits, more people are showing interest in cultivating betel nut,” he said.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
