For farmers in Chandipasha Charpara village, in Kishoreganj’s Pakundia upazila’s Chandipasha union, early-season beans are no longer just a vegetable — they have become one of the leading sources of extra income. Because it offers the chance to earn several times more with relatively low costs on a small plot of land, this form of cultivation is growing day by day.
Speaking with local farmers, it emerged that early-variety bean cultivation began in this village eight to 10 years ago. Initially, a few farmers brought seeds from Pabna and began growing them on an experimental basis. Seeing their success, with good yields and profits, others also grew interested. Now, many farmers in the village grow early-season beans. Some now preserve their own seeds to use on their land the following year.
Farmer Gias Uddin said he has grown early-season beans on 20 decimals of land this time. By his calculation, cultivation cost roughly Tk 6,000. He has already sold Tk 30,000 worth of beans. He expects to be able to sell roughly another Tk 140,000 worth of beans from the field.
His total sales from the 20 decimals of land could reach roughly Tk 170,000. After deducting costs, his profit will also come to a significant sum. Gias Uddin said he has been growing early-variety beans for the past seven years. He gets a good yield and price every year. For this reason, he now grows this variety of bean regularly. Faruq Mia has grown early-season beans on the land next to Gias Uddin’s. His costs on 35 decimals of land came to roughly Tk 15,000-16,000. He has already sold Tk 30,000 worth of beans, and expects to sell roughly another Tk 200,000 worth from the field.
Faruq Mia said he has been growing early-season beans for roughly 10 years. If early beans can be brought to market in time, they fetch a good price. So the chance of profit from this crop is higher compared with other crops.
It isn’t just Gias Uddin and Faruq Mia — fellow villager Foysal Mia is also dreaming of several-fold profits after growing early-season beans on 26 decimals of land. Seeing their success, many more farmers in the village have taken up this form of cultivation.
Early-season bean cultivation also began entirely on local farmers’ own initiative. Early on, they would bring seeds from Pabna to grow. Later, as their experience with the crop grew, they began collecting and preserving seeds from the best beans on their own land.
Sub-assistant agriculture officer Mohammad Jahangir Alam said the soil in the Chandipasha area is highly suitable for summer early-season bean cultivation. The upazila agriculture department is providing vegetable incentives and necessary advice and technical support on protecting crops from disease and pest attacks.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report