Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Harang A village in Chandina Municipal area of Cumilla . 30 families of this village are involved in betel cultivation. Two hundred families of Mohichail and Kongai villages of the same upazila are involved. More than 1500 families in six upazilas of Cumilla are involved in betel cultivation. The tradition of betel cultivation in those families is more than hundred years. Betel cultivation brought prosperity to their family.

According to Agriculture Office sources, 116 hectares of land in the district are under betel cultivation. Chandina, Devidwar, Barura, Burichang, Brahmanpara and Muradnagar upazilas of Comilla are cultivating a significant amount of betel nut. Betel is grown mostly in Harang, Chilora, Ewajban, Etbarpur, Maizkhar, Kongai, Kongai Mohanpur, Kaduti, Alikamura and Mohichail in Chandina. Besides, Barkamta, Gunaighar, Begmabad, Lalitasar, Biharam-L and Mohanpur in the neighboring Debidwar upazila.

Going to Harang village on the surface, it can be seen that green betel leaves are spreading around the houses. They are also busy from early morning. Someone is tying a banyan tree with straw. Someone is drinking. Someone is picking tola paan. When the betel nut is plucked, its sweet aroma wafts into the air.

Nimai Chandra Dutta, a farmer of Harang village, said that his family has been cultivating betel for hundreds of years. He cultivated betel on two acres of land. He got 30 years of harvest from one betel nut tree. In this area, Mahalani ben is cultivated more, Gayasur bean is cultivated to a lesser extent. Big pan sold bira (96 pieces) wholesale at 230 taka. The price of a medium drink is 120 taka. Sold the small ones for 50 taka.

He said, their family has prospered in drinking. Prices of bamboo, hay, fertilizer, seeds have increased. So now the profit is decreasing. Bidhu Bhushan Pal, a betel nut farmer of Chilora village in Chandina Upazila, said that his paternal grandfather used to cultivate betel. He also cultivated betel for 45 years. The advantage of betel cultivation is that the crop is available throughout the year. More betel is produced during monsoon. Drinks can be sold in cash every morning.

Davashis Pal a small betel buyer in Chandina Bazar, said that people of Barui community grow more betel. Chandina is the major betel market of the region. He buys paan and sells it retail and wholesale in nearby Rammohan Bazar.

Liton Chandra Pal, the wholesale buyer of the market, said that there is a daily demand of 10,000 beera pans in the district. The production is 6 thousand biras. Agriculture department can take more initiative to increase betel cultivation.

Golam Sarwar, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of Chandina Municipal Block, said that farmers in many villages in Chandina grow betel leaf. Selling betel has brought prosperity to their family.

Ayub Mahmud, Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension Department, Cumilla , said that our field officers provide various technical support including advice to the farmers. We will pay more attention to increase betel cultivation and production.