The farmers in Panchagarh district are delighted with the abundant production and high prices of chillies in the local markets. The favorable land conditions and suitable weather in the five upazilas of the district have contributed to the increasing popularity of chilli cultivation among farmers. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Panchagarh, chillies were cultivated on 4,000 hectares of land this year. The wholesale markets are currently selling a maund (around 37.32 kg) of green chilli for approximately Tk 5,000, exceeding the farmers’ expectations. It is estimated that one bigha of land can yield at least 25-30 maunds of chillies.
Debiganj hosts a chilli market where traders from various parts of the country gather to purchase chillies from wholesale markets and supply them to different places, including Dhaka. The harvesting of green chillies began in early May and will continue until July. Over the past few years, farmers in the district have been earning substantial profits from commercial chilli cultivation. Furthermore, the farmers in the district are also receiving fair prices for paddy and maize crops.