The prices of betel leaf see sharp fall this season, much to the frustration of the betel leaf farmers in the district. The traders depicted a frustrating picture as this correspondent visited a few markets in the district recently. The total daily sale in these wholesale markets has come down.
The growers alleged that Indian betel leaf has flooded the market leading to the decline in prices. A bundle of 80 pieces (locally called bira) of local variety was sold at Tk 80 to 100 two weeks ago which is now being sold at Tk 50 to 60. The price is not enough even to recover the production cost, farmers alleged.
This year 26,700 decimal of land have been brought under betel leaf cultivation in Sadar and Kabirhat upazilas. "Two years ago I cultivated betel with the money taken as loan from the village association. Now the leaves are fully grown up, but the low prices make me hopeless. Now I am worried about repayment of my loan?" said Narayan Chandra, a farmer of Madhya Kabirhat village.   Some rot diseases of the plant in root, leaf and steam cause a huge loss to the farmers every year but any official from the Department of Agriculture Extension has not yet assisted them for a single day, he said.
“A fungus type virus consisting 'sclerotium' of the soil causes the disease and it spreads in the betel plantations mainly in damp weather,” said Harunur Rashid, Sadar upazila agricultural officer.
“Dry weather with hot sunlight and sufficient flow of air is needed to combat the disease. Betel leaf planters should spray 1.5 or 2 gram VITAVEX or PROVEX-200 medicine mixed with one litre water on the betel plant on a katha of land,” he said.
Although betel plantation is generally profitable, most of the planters failed to earn profit due to widespread pest and virus attack during the last decade.
Gopal of Madhya Kabirhat village said "Wholesalers are giving small amounts for betel leaf, saying that market price of the item is very low”. Some of the wholesalers said they even gave money in advance to the growers but failed to get supplies. The prices of bamboo, jute sticks, straws, natural and agro-manure like oil cake, which are needed for betel leaf cultivation, increased sharply, they said.
A quality bamboo sells at Tk 180 to Tk 220. Straws and jute sticks are not available in many areas. Marginal farmer Gorango Shil, 45, of Compani Ghat in Sadar  upazila said it costs about Tk 1.2 lakh per bigha to farm betel, including bamboo stakes, rope, fertilisers, labour and the coarse grass for the shade-roof of the enclosure in which the betel grows. Deputy Director of DAE in Noakhali Prnab Battachrya said sweet betel leaf cultivation across the district has risen.