A Tk 2.5 lakh betel garden earned Tk 24 lakh in three years, with no profit in the Amphan year

About three years before the report, a betel farmer in Bodhkhana village, Jhikargachha, Jashore planted cuttings of the Indian Bonhooghli variety on 18 katha of land. Land preparation, planting and fencing cost Tk 2.5 lakh. He began picking leaves two and a half months after planting, and a planted vine keeps bearing for at least ten years. According to Ajker Patrika, from the 18-katha garden he sold Tk 14 lakh of cuttings alone in three years. In the first year he sold Tk 5 lakh of leaves. He later expanded to 3.5 bigha and has sold another Tk 5 lakh of leaves this year. In all, selling leaves and cuttings from 3.5 bigha brought Tk 24 lakh in three years. But Cyclone Amphan damaged the garden in 2020 and that year he made no profit. Leaf prices are somewhat low now, yet he expects to sell from this garden for another seven or eight years. He picks twice a week, sorts the leaves and sends them to market; the large leaves of this variety are in more demand. He uses less chemical fertiliser and more organic fertiliser and oil cake, which cuts cost, and following the advice of the sub-assistant agriculture officer keeps serious disease down. Many farmers nearby now grow betel using cuttings from him.