Bumper betel nut production has brought smile on the faces of farmers of Datterhat Bazar in Noakhali sadar upazila this year. Betel nuts are usually harvested during the Bengali months Ashwin-Kartik (October- November), said Jamaluddin, a grower. He however said, “We are happy because sale is good and we are getting fair prices.”   Some growers said there has been bumper production but they are worried about continuous rain that affects their produce.
Another betel nut grower Imam Uddin who came in the hat from west Sonapur told The Independent that last year they got low price because of the middle men. But this time traders did not contact with them. “We hope we could be able to sell till November,” they added.
A good number of growers, retailers and wholesalers have started coming to the markets in Dattarhat. Some are displaying and some are busy packing the produce.
Another grower Amzad Hossain said, “After meeting our demands, the additional betel nuts have been brought for sale in local markets.”
 He said 80 pieces of high quality betel nuts are sold at Tk180 to Tk185 but last year this was sold at Tk 110 to Tk120.
Mizan, a local trader said 80 pieces of high quality betel nuts are sold at Tk 90 to Tk 120 but middlemen are purchasing from growers only at Tk65 to Tk70.
He however said 80 pieces of low quality or small size betel nuts are sold at Tk 75 to Tk 85.
But middlemen buy at Tk 55- Tk 60 from us. High prices made the growers happy this year.
Enamul Haque, a wholesaler said he collected nearly 20 tonnes of betel nut for supplying to Dhaka. He said in average he collects per pon (80 pieces a pon) at Tk 100. Later it will be exported to Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia.  
A middleman who came from Sitakudna for cheap rate said betel nuts of Noakhali are better than that of other districts including Pirojpur, Khulna, he added.  Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension of Noakhali said nearly 520 hectares of land was brought under betel nut cultivate this year.