The Singair upazila of Manikganj district is witnessing a revolution in carrot harvests, with a crop yield of more than 35,000 metric tons expected this season.
Thirty villages in the upazila are now aglow with bright yellow and orange carrots planted on 1,200 hectares of farmland. Singair is well known across the country for its expertise in harvesting carrots, where these villages are known as carrot villages.
Carrots from Singair have significant demand in markets both at home and abroad.
According to the Manikganj office of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), carrots have been planted in around 1,200 hectares of farmland, and the expected yield is 18-20 tons per hectare. Local farmers are expecting a harvest of 35,000 metric tons.
Singair has the soil type and weather beneficial to carrot plants.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Fazlul Haque said: “I have been planting carrots for the past 20 years. However, the price of carrot seeds has gradually increased. I had to import seeds from abroad.
“Due to high seed prices, I used less farmland for planting carrots this season. The government should subsidize local dealers to lower seed prices.”
Another farmer, Md Habibur Rahman, said: “I planted carrots in 2.5 bigha (.4 hectare) of land, with expenses of around Tk25,000 per bigha. Due to the low of fog this winter, the harvest will be a little less.
“However, the present market price will allow me to make a hefty profit. I am selling carrots for Tk15-20 per kilogram. My carrots are being sold in wholesale markets across the country, including in Dhaka.”
Good harvest, good prices
Several other local farmers confirmed that the harvest is good this year, and they are getting good prices so far. Some farmers requested the government to take steps for lowering seed prices, and imported seeds are quite expensive.
Responding to a query, farmer Joynal Abedin of Durgapur village said: “I am turning a hefty profit, but seed prices have increased from Tk10,000 to almost Tk15,000. Carrot farming costs around Tk30,000 per bigha, and I am selling the harvest for around Tk50,000.”
A local buyer and wholesaler, Kohinoor Mia, told the reporter: “I bought the carrots planted on 50 bighas (8 hectares) of farmland. There are additional costs associated with picking, washing packaging and transporting the carrots across the country, including to markets in Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong, Comilla, Noakhali, and Barisal.”
According to local field level agriculture officials, there are no local high yield carrot seeds available in Bangladesh. Farmers import a special seed type named “Orange King” from Japan.
The farmers were also given instructions for staving off fungus infections in carrot plants.
District Department of Agriculture Extensions Deputy Director Habibur Rahman said: “Farmers are getting regular training in the proper use of seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides. Crop yield has been substantial this season.
“Carrots become ready for picking three months after sowing the seeds. But it takes around a hundred and twenty five days for the carrots to become ripe.”
