In Bhola's rural economy, betel +nut (supari) cultivation has added a new dimension, especially in the upazilas of Sadar, Borhanuddin, Tajumuddin, Lalmohan, and Charfassion. In these areas, in addition to paddy and vegetables, large-scale betel nut plantations are seen in villages, as well as in home courtyards, garden houses, and fallow lands. Once planted, betel nut trees can bear fruit for many years, making them a long-term investment.
Compared to other crops, betel nut cultivation requires relatively low investment, yet offers high market demand. This has encouraged many local traders to buy directly from villages, ensuring farmers do not face much difficulty in selling their produce.
This season, the region has experienced a bumper betel nut harvest. Depending on size, 320 pieces (1 "B") of betel nut are currently selling for between 300 and 500 BDT in the market. Farmers are pleased, as the nuts from Bhola are being exported to other districts including Dhaka, Chattogram, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Rangpur, and Kushtia.
Markets in Bhola’s upazilas have become vibrant trade centers for betel nut. Major markets include Ilisha Hat, Junction Bazar, Tulatuli Bazar, Porihat, and Kalpar Bazar in Sadar; Sayedar Hat, Borhangonj, Moniram Bazar, and Kunjher Hat in Borhanuddin; Gojaria, Kortarhat, Lord Harding, Nazirpur, Mongolshikder, Chotola, Raychand, and Dowri in Lalmohan; Tajumuddin Sadar, Chandpur, Sonapur, Khaserhat, and Gurinda Bazar in Tajumuddin; and Dularhat, Chairman Bazar, Dakshin Aicha, Nilkomol, Pachkopat, and Mainka Bazar in Charfassion. Traders buy from local farmers in these markets and sell to larger wholesalers in the district town.
Md. Parvez, a farmer from Ward 5 of East Ilisha Union in Bhola Sadar, said, "We have a betel nut garden on about 210 shatak (approximately 2.1 acres) of land. This year, we’ve had more than double the yield compared to last year, though the fruits are slightly smaller. Prices are also a bit lower than last year. Still, due to the higher yield, we expect to make a good profit this season."
Md. Babul, owner of Messrs. Babul Bhandar at Sayedar Hat in Borhanuddin, shared that there are around 300 betel nut wholesale traders across the district. “The main trading season is during the Bengali months of Ashwin, Kartik, and Agrahayan. Farmers bring ripe nuts to the market, and traders send them to different parts of the country. Betel nuts are also soaked and dried before being distributed. In Borhanuddin alone, about 5 to 6 million BDT worth of betel nuts are traded daily.”
Md. Mohsin Sayedar, another farmer, noted that despite lower prices, the high yield has helped farmers earn good profits. Currently, one "B" (320 pieces) of large-sized nuts sells for 500 BDT, medium for 450 BDT, and smaller ones for around 300 BDT.
According to Md. Khairul Islam Mallik, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Bhola, betel nuts have been cultivated on around 12,000 hectares of land this year, with additional unregistered cultivation as well. “This year, the production has been two to three times higher than last year. There has also been no pest infestation, and the favorable weather has led to exceptional yields. We believe more people will be interested in cultivating betel nut in the coming years.”
Local agriculture experts also believe that with proper planning and initiatives, betel nut could become one of the major driving forces of the rural economy in the next few years. Unlike paddy, which requires higher investment and faces greater risks, betel nut trees provide returns for years with relatively little ongoing effort, making it a more sustainable and profitable crop for farmers.
