Betel leaf is one of the cash crops among the farmers of Chuadanga district. Many unemployed educated youths and students are engaged in betel leaf farming. The demand of betel betel leaf of Chuadanga is everywhere, including some foreign countries, due to its sweet taste.
According to Agriculture Extension Department (DAE), 1640 hectares of land were brought under betel leaf cultivation in the district. The upazila wise breaks up are 510 hectares of land in sadar upazila, 910 hectares in Alamdanga upazila, 160 hectares in Damurhuda upazila and 60 hectares in Jibannagar upazila. Topographic and climatic conditions of the upazilas are very suitable for this cash farming. About 16800 metric tons of betel leaf is to product by cultivation of 1640 hectares of land.
By dint of hard working and relentless efforts, the farmers have become self- reliant in the area. Witnessing their success, many unemployed educated youths have been inspired and establishing ‘baraj’ unit of betel leaf farming, and they are now doing well. Rabbi Sayeed, sub-assistant agriculture officer, said that betel leaf grown in the district has high demand at home and abroad for its quality and flavor.
Rafiqul Islam, a farmer of village Hajrahaty in sadar upazila, said he works very hard in the farming and pass most of his time in nursing betel leaf plants. Though he has little formal education, he is now committed to making his offspring well-educated with his earning. Rafiqul Islam also stated that he bears his four members family through a panbaraj on two kathas of land.
His son is a student of Chuadanga Government College and daughter is a student of Class six at Taltala-hajrahaty High School. It is learnt the leaf is also being exported to different Middle East countries and it has much demanded in Saudi Arabia. The farmers used to sell betel leaf at different local markets.
Md. Hasan Ali, Deputy Director of DAE, said that they provide necessary farming technology to the growers of betel leaf together with disease control measures. He also stated that unemployed educated youths and college going students are engaged to cultivate betel leaf as cash crop.