The green chili sector in Bangladesh's Manikganj district is experiencing dynamic activity this season. Harvesting is active, with produce entering local markets. Current market rates are approximately $0.45 to $0.55 per kilogram, while wholesale prices range from about $0.36 to $0.41 per kilogram.
Producers from Ghior and Shibalaya upazilas distribute their green chili at Banangail and Uthuli bazaars. Meanwhile, Harirampur growers supply Jhitka, Bathoimuri, Balla, and Sarupai bazaars. The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) identifies green chili as a key cash crop, second only to onions in these upazilas.
Trade activity is robust, with numerous wholesalers and retailers sourcing directly from these areas. The logistics involve hundreds of trucks transporting the chili nationwide. Harvesting operations engage a significant workforce, predominantly women.
Trader Abidur Alam notes, "Every day, a group of traders visit the local markets and buy green chili from their godown for supplying different parts of the country." Mahbub Ali, a cultivator, mentions a generational tradition of green chili farming.
Akkas Ali highlights the expanding export markets, stating that Manikganj's green chili reaches European and Middle Eastern countries. The DAE reports a cultivation target of 3,717 hectares, with actual cultivation reaching 3,825 hectares, surpassing expectations.
Deputy Director of DAE Dr. Robia Noor Ahmed remarks on the district's favorable soil conditions, particularly in Harirampur, Shibalaya, and Ghior, and the quality demand for Manikganj's green chili.
Source: BSS News