[🇧🇩] Agriculture in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Watermelon cultivation surpasses target

Although watermelon cultivation has surpassed the target and farmers are celebrating a bumper yield this season, prices remain three times higher in major cities than at farm-level rates in Barishal—one of the largest watermelon-producing hubs in Bangladesh.

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Watermelon cultivation surpasses target
Still costing urban consumers thrice as much as farm-level rates

Workers load watermelons onto a tractor in a field in Charfesson, Bhola. Farmers in Patuakhali and Bhola call the juicy fruit their “green gold”, as no other crop has yielded such high profits in such a short time. Photo: Monir Uddin Anik

Although watermelon cultivation has surpassed the target and farmers are celebrating a bumper yield this season, prices remain three times higher in major cities than at farm-level rates in Barishal—one of the largest watermelon-producing hubs in Bangladesh.

Still, farmers are happy with the prices, while consumers are frustrated at paying exorbitant rates to have the summer delight on their iftar platters.

Supply chain analysis and price comparisons show that it is not the farmers but the middlemen who are dictating the rates, as the fruit changes hands multiple times before reaching the retail market.

Across vast lands in the coastal regions of the southern districts of Patuakhali and Bhola, lush green watermelon fields dominate the landscape.

Farmers there call the juicy fruit their "green gold," as no other crop has yielded such high profits in such a short time.

Across the country, cultivation of the fruit nearly tripled in five years to 226,650 acres in the fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 from 85,500 acres in 2018-19. Accordingly, production rose about threefold to 36 lakh tonnes in FY23 from 13.67 lakh tonnes five years ago, according to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).

Supply chain analysis and price comparisons show that it is not the farmers but the middlemen who are dictating the rates, as the fruit changes hands multiple times

Of the total, Barishal alone supplied around 27 lakh tonnes of watermelon in FY23.

According to watermelon growers in Barishal, favourable weather conditions have led to excellent yields, with larger-sized watermelons available in the market this year.'Green gold'

In Char Meghbhasan village of Char Fashion upazila in Bhola, farmers like Motahar Howlader have cultivated watermelons on 3.2 acres of land with an investment of Tk 400,000. He has already sold his harvest to wholesalers for Tk 650,000 and expects around 5,000 watermelons from his field.

Large watermelons are being sold for Tk 120-130 each, while medium-sized ones fetch Tk 80-100.

Howlader said that as the land does not belong to him, he will have to pay the rent, which is Tk 20,000-30,000 per 1.6 acres, from the sales. Besides, production costs range from Tk 150,000-200,000 per 1.6 acres.

Wholesale watermelon trader Delwar Hossain, who has purchased 48 acres of watermelon fields, said he paid Tk 390,000-420,000 per 1.6 acres.

He expects each 1.6-acre plot to produce 2,400-2,500 watermelons, mostly of large and medium sizes.

Large 8-10 kg watermelons are being sold wholesale for Tk 250-300 each, while medium-sized 4-5 kg watermelons go for Tk 160-170. Hossain said that transport losses, port fees, and other logistics costs contribute to the high retail prices.

Despite relatively lower farm-level prices, watermelons reach Dhaka and other retail markets at three times the price.

In Barishal's wholesale markets, traders like Ganesh Dutta reported selling 7-8 kg watermelons for Tk 350-375, later reaching Tk 450-500 in retail markets.Ramadan demand in price metrics

Similar to Bhola, watermelon farmers in Patuakhali's Galachipa and Rangabali upazilas are expecting profits due to high demand during Ramadan.

In Amkhola village of Galachipa, farmer Barek Mridha (55) cultivated watermelons on 111 acres of land. "I am selling watermelons at an average of Tk 10 lakh per acre," he said.

Likewise, farmers like Md Motaleb Pyada (40) and Bariul Islam (45) in Suhuri village cultivated 74 acres and 37 acres, respectively.

Wholesale buyers from Dhaka have already secured their produce in advance. Large watermelons are selling for Tk 300 per piece.

In Kaukhali village of Rangabali, the region's largest watermelon farmer, Mojibur Rahman (45), said this season's yield is better than last year.

Meanwhile, Kalam Pyada (40) from North Char Montaz village has already sold Tk 15 lakh worth of watermelons and expects another Tk 40-50 lakh in sales.Intermediaries drive up retail prices

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in the Barishal region, watermelon cultivation this year exceeded the target by 4,620 acres. The goal was 118,700 acres, but actual cultivation reached 123,300 acres.

Patuakhali alone accounts for 60 percent of Barishal's total watermelon cultivation, with an increase of 11,735 acres compared to last year.

The average yield per acre stands at 21 tonnes. In Patuakhali, 6-7 kg watermelons are selling wholesale for Tk 240-300 per piece, but retail prices soar to Tk 400-500 per piece.

Shamim Ahmed, training officer of DAE Bhola, said that 3,350 acres of land were used for watermelon farming this year, with similar productivity levels of 21 tonnes per acre.

"In Mojarchar, we found watermelons weighing up to 12 kg, selling for Tk 300 each. In Bhola, watermelons can reach 22 kg, offering significantly higher rates for growers," he said.

Md Nazrul Islam Sikder, additional director of DAE, Barishal region, said that 65 percent of the country's total watermelon supply comes from Barishal.

He said intermediaries at multiple levels significantly drive up retail prices.

"Farmers sell at relatively low prices, but by the time watermelons reach Dhaka, Chattogram, Faridpur, and other markets, the price triples," he added.​

 

[Saif]

Farmers may get insurance protection if damage risk is minimised

Disaster insurance can save small farmers from financial losses rendered by adverse weather events if it is coupled with actions taken before they strike to minimize harm, according to recent studies. Losses in small to medium-sized crises are often overlooked in traditional disaster response mecha

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Farmers may get insurance protection if damage risk is minimised
SAIFUNNAHAR SUMI
Published :
Mar 12, 2025 01:05
Updated :
Mar 12, 2025 01:05

Disaster insurance can save small farmers from financial losses rendered by adverse weather events if it is coupled with actions taken before they strike to minimize harm, according to recent studies.

Losses in small to medium-sized crises are often overlooked in traditional disaster response mechanisms but they put immense financial pressure on farmers, making it difficult for them to continue cultivation in subsequent seasons.

Civil society based pooled funding mechanism Start Fund Bangladesh (SFB) found that an investment of just $902 in embankment repairs protected assets and livelihoods worth up to $5.86 million during Cyclone Remal last year.

It concludes that minimal investments in embankment repairs through "anticipatory actions" resulted in significant savings for households and communities.

Anticipatory actions mean steps to reduce harm before a predicted disaster happens or before its worst effects are felt.

So, when the impact of a disaster is contained, the subsequent losses can be covered by insurance.

In a study report, the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) says anticipatory actions through disaster management committees at the ward level, combined with insurance coverage, could support disaster-prone farmers, address climate change impacts, and ensure food security in Bangladesh.

The DDM submitted the report to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief last year.

The ministry has committees at the ward level that can identify the right beneficiaries.

Farmers in an insurance scheme under Sadharan Bima Corporation may pay 20 per cent of the premium through mobile financial services, such as Nagad and bKash, while the government can cover the remaining 80 per cent of the premium from the relief fund, said Jalal Ahmed, engineer of the Construction of Flood Shelter Project at the DDM.

Disaster insurance, a key component of climate risk insurance (CRI), includes traditional crop insurance, index-based crop insurance, and weather index-based products.

CRI serves as a financial safety net against extreme weather, helping vulnerable households manage climate shocks, reducing migration pressures, and safeguarding food security, said experts.

Insurance schemes should involve small-scale payouts, enabling farmers to reinvest in agriculture without financial distress, according to experts.

"If farmers receive compensation for damages, they can avoid debt and financial hardships," said Nafisa Tasnim Khan, senior programme officer for Climate Justice and Natural Resources Rights at Oxfam in Bangladesh.

The country ranks as the seventh most vulnerable country to natural disasters globally, according to the Climate Risk Index (2000-2019).

The National Plan for Disaster Management (2021-2025) notes that cyclones such as Roanu, Mora, Fani, Bulbul, and Amphan hit the country's coastal regions, while monsoon floods in 2020 submerged over 36 per cent of the country, impacting 30 districts in the northern, northeastern, and southeastern regions.

This is the backdrop against which Ms Nafisa emphasized the need for CRI to ensure that farmers can quickly recover from losses in one season and prepare for the next cultivation season.

However, there have been many small-scale, donor-supported climate insurance projects in Bangladesh but none of them has shown promise.

Disaster risk reduction measures were the components missing in the projects, experts point out.

"So, non-life insurance combined with anticipatory action and proper early warning systems can be beneficial for small farmers," said Md. Shamsuddoha, chief executive of the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD).

A study by the CPRD found that only 12.5 per cent of insurers currently offer traditional risk transfer insurance.

Mr Shamsuddoha suggested that insurance schemes should be more effective if applied to large-scale agricultural projects, such as shrimp enclosures in disaster-prone areas, where both insurers and farmers could be benefited.

Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Managing Director Md Fazlul Kader also advocates for anticipatory actions to minimize damages and insurance coverage to protect livelihoods in flood-prone regions.

Ahmadul Haque, director (admin) of the government-run Cyclone Preparedness Programme, acknowledged the absence of financial investment in climate change adaptation and risk reduction.

He stressed the importance of incorporating index-based climate risk insurance into national disaster risk management strategies and climate adaptation plans to build resilience against losses.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

In India, one of the government institutions has developed an excellent culture from cow dund bacteria. It is called west decomposer. What you have to do is to just add it in water with 2 kg of jaggery and allow it to rest for a week. The culture will have so much of useful bacteria. You can use it to water soil with a very small quantity or spray on plant with water. It will decompose all the bio west into fertilizer. It can work as insecticide as well. It increases the fruit yield by 30%.

 

[Saif]

Agri-loan disbursement falls, recovery rises

Agricultural loan disbursement declined, but recovery increased in Bangladesh in the six months to December last year compared to the same period of the previous year.

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Agri-loan disbursement falls, recovery rises
But overdue loans surged sharply in July-December of FY25

Agricultural loan disbursement declined, but recovery increased in Bangladesh in the six months to December last year compared to the same period of the previous year.

Outstanding loans remained stable, but in the meantime, overdue loans surged sharply.

Reduced lending from private and foreign commercial banks, which disburse most agri-loans, led to an 11.28 percent year-on-year drop in total agri-loan disbursement to Tk 16,259.11 crore in the last six months of FY25.

The sharpest decline was seen in late summer, particularly in August and September, according to the December 2024 report on agriculture and rural finance of Bangladesh Bank.

The trend shifted in November and December when disbursement showed signs of recovery.

For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the government targeted disbursing Tk 38,000 crore in agricultural loans, which was 2.28 percent higher than the previous year's actual disbursement of Tk 37,153.9 crore.

Reduced lending from private and foreign commercial banks, which disburse most agri-loans, led to an 11.28 percent year-on-year drop in total agri-loan disbursement

The highest disbursement target was set for private commercial banks—over two-thirds of the total.

The lowest target of Tk 1,264 crore was set for foreign commercial banks.

In the first six months of FY25, foreign commercial banks reduced agri-loan disbursement by 67.16 percent year-on-year, while private commercial banks also cut lending by a fifth.

State-owned specialised banks followed suit by reducing disbursement by 7.58 percent.

On the other hand, state-owned commercial banks increased their disbursement by 58.86 percent, but that was not enough to reverse the overall drop.

"The July uprising of 2024, along with the floods, might have played a significant role in the fall in agri-loan disbursement, which is very concerning for farmers," said Mustafa K Mujeri, executive director of the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development (InM).

Farmers will need agri-loans during the Boro season, which accounts for over 50 percent of the country's rice production, he said.

However, Mohammad Shafruzzaman Khan, vice-president of Mercantile Bank, noted that disbursement has been improving since November and showed a positive trend from December to March.

"The slowdown was due to the political changeover and floods, but things are getting better," he said.

Compared to disbursement, banks showed better performance in recovering loans than in the previous year.

State-owned and private commercial banks led the rise, while specialised and foreign banks saw a decline in repayments.

Mujeri of InM credited the rise in loan recovery to the strong network of microfinance institutions and nongovernmental organisations through which banks disburse such credit in remote areas.

The BB report showed that last September saw the highest jump in recoveries, while July recorded the lowest.

Scheduled banks recovered Tk 19,117.26 crore in the last six months of FY25, up 7.52 percent year-on-year.

State-owned commercial banks improved recovery by 56.08 percent, while private commercial banks saw a 16.18 percent increase.

However, state-owned specialised banks and foreign commercial banks recorded declines of 10.14 percent and 50.34 percent, respectively.

The highest recovery of Tk 3,764.51 crore was made in September last year, while the lowest, Tk 2,553.79 crore, was recorded in July, showing uneven repayment behaviour among borrowers.

A good thing happened in the total outstanding agricultural credit balance, which remained almost unchanged from the previous year.

But the most concerning trend was seen in overdue loans, which jumped significantly compared to the previous year.

A growing portion of outstanding credit now remains unpaid, creating risks for future lending.

Overdue agricultural loans saw a 43.49 percent year-on-year rise, reaching Tk 11,600.25 crore in December last year.

It is worth mentioning that overdue loans made up 20.71 percent of the outstanding credit balance in FY25, compared to 14.59 percent in FY24.

Crop damage from floods hit farmers in the last half of 2024, while the July uprising disrupted the entire value chain of marketing and sales of the goods already produced, the InM executive director said.

"Those who took loans earlier could not repay on time, as the production, marketing, and sales of their produce were facing difficulties."

State-owned and private commercial banks saw the highest increase in overdue loans, while foreign banks maintained a clean record, according to BB data.

Foreign commercial banks maintained zero overdue loans.

Mujeri thinks the decline in disbursement and the surge in overdue loans pose challenges for agricultural credit.

The government should strongly monitor to ensure that small growers are provided with more agricultural credit, he said.

"If they (farmers) don't get loans on time, the country's food production will suffer."​

 

[Saif]

Helping farmers store surplus crops

Trade and commerce in this country remain as tricky as ever to take both the growers of crops of mass consumption and the consumers for a ride. Big businesses wield their all-pervasive power compelling farmers and the consumers to see both sides of the same coin within a year or the following year

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Helping farmers store surplus crops
FE
Published :
Mar 17, 2025 23:30
Updated :
Mar 17, 2025 23:44

Trade and commerce in this country remain as tricky as ever to take both the growers of crops of mass consumption and the consumers for a ride. Big businesses wield their all-pervasive power compelling farmers and the consumers to see both sides of the same coin within a year or the following year depending on the cropping pattern or yield. There is no guarantee that small farmers will ever reap benefit from crops such as paddy, potato and onion enjoying wider consumption than any other items. The theory of demand-supply is conveniently distorted by a syndicated nexus of businesses, hoarders and middlemen. Right now farmers are facing the dual problems of no space in cold storages for their excess yield and the throwaway prices. That is exactly how the big businesses make their stocks of rice, potato and onion for fleecing the consumers in the lean season while the growers in time of high yield have to dispose of their crops at prices below their production costs.

The agriculture department has done enough to encourage farmers to raise production of crops, vegetables and even fish several times more but no government has felt the need to develop the allied sub-sectors so crucial for building a reserve for the off-season and stabilising prices throughout the year. Warehouses and cold storages are mostly controlled by private parties. If a reasonable number of those were constructed and run under the government management to strike a balance between demand and supply during the crunch time, private business entities could not monopolise the market. The cat-and-mouse game played to maximise profits from certain targeted item each year would be a thing of the past. That the government effort to build a stock of the surplus cereal suffers almost every year is almost axiomatic. This is done in collusion with big businesses for monetary gains. Thus paddy and rice procurement drives end in failures.

Evidently, this indicates that government must have an adequate number of warehouses and cold storages not only to meet the crisis during the lean period before the next harvest but also because of averting the losses due to a lack of modern storage facilities. After all, onion and potato are perishable items that cannot be preserved anywhere to prevent rot. If these items are stored in technologically advanced warehouses and cold storages, the government can as well make some profit in addition to meeting the national need in time of crisis. So, the government would do well to build up a chain of such storage facilities preferably in the regions where such crops have surplus yields.

The bottom line is to help the agriculture department with its planning for coverage of acreage for different crops in this land-scarce country. When the government maintains some control of the supply line of the locally produced items in particular, the business syndicates' market manipulation can be foiled. Increased storage facilities can in the process avoid rotting of items like onion which is more or less grown as much as the country needs but for the early losses due to a lack of scientific harvest and storage. Thus a chain of modern storage facilities can make a difference in the supply line as well as in the unpredictable market volatility.​

 

[Saif]

Potato exports jump as prices plunge in local market

Bangladesh’s potato shipments nearly doubled in just the first eight months of this fiscal year as locally grown tubers became attractive to buyers abroad after prices fell below farmers’ production costs.

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Potato exports jump as prices plunge in local market

Bangladesh's potato shipments nearly doubled in just the first eight months of this fiscal year as locally grown tubers became attractive to buyers abroad after prices fell below farmers' production costs.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Bangladesh exported roughly 24,000 tonnes of potatoes until March 15 of the current fiscal year, almost double the quantity shipped across the whole of FY24.

In February alone, potato exports reached around 12,000 tonnes, matching the total exports of the year prior.

That was a month when farmers, especially those in the northwest regions of the country, were compelled to sell their produce for as low as Tk 11 per kilogramme (kg), far lower by the DAE's estimated production costs of Tk 15 per kg this season.

Experts believe this development occurred due to a production glut following cultivation on a record area of land.

The starchy vegetable was cultivated on a record 5.24 lakh hectares of land this fiscal year, up 15 percent year-on-year, propelled by prices reaching as high as Tk 80 per kg last November.

"The increase in potato exports this year is due to low prices," said Hafizur Rahman Mintu, who has exported around 9,000 tonnes of potatoes to Nepal, Malaysia and Singapore so far this year.

He has already recorded an 80 percent increase compared to his total exports in FY24.

This year, exporters have been able to purchase potatoes at Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg whereas the price ranged from Tk 30 to Tk 40 per kg last year, he said.

Tawhidul Islam, another exporter, said he exported around 8,400 tonnes of potatoes this fiscal year to Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal and Bahrain, whereas it was around 1,400 tonnes in the previous fiscal year.

This year, they have been able to procure potatoes for around Tk 10 per kg whereas the price was Tk 30 per kg last year, he said.

Another exporter said the low prices this year allowed him to export 1,300 tonnes of potatoes to Sri Lanka this year, marking the first time he has shipped to the island nation.

Exporters are primarily sourcing high-demand varieties like Granola, Diamond-7 and Majestic.

However, despite high production volumes, exporters are facing challenges in sourcing enough export-quality potatoes as the supply of premium-grade potatoes is limited, said Md Afzal Hossain, acting deputy director of the DAE in Rangpur.

As such, the DAE has advised farmers to cultivate export-oriented varieties such as Granola, Santana, and Kumari.

Hossain also emphasised the need for increased cultivation of these varieties and enhanced storage solutions to prevent future price crashes.

Syed Md Rafiqul Amin, managing director of Hortex Foundation under the agriculture ministry, said rising exports would bring some relief to farmers in major potato-growing regions, who were incurring losses while harvests were running in full swing.

Already, prices have started to rise at the growers' end, though retail prices of the vegetable remained unchanged at Tk 20-Tk 30 per kg in Dhaka, according to data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.

This fiscal year, total production is expected to reach 1.20 crore tonnes, according to Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, a major player in the local supply chain.

Last fiscal year, 1.06 crore tonnes of potatoes were produced, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics estimates.

Amin of Hortex Foundation said they were connecting farmers with exporters.

Exporters can purchase potatoes at lower prices this fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year due to better yields, which is why exports have increased, he said.

Bangladesh's potato exports began in 1999, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, though only a small amount was exported at that time.

In the past nine years since FY16, Bangladesh has annually exported around 50,000 tonnes of potatoes on average, as per the DAE. However, exports dropped last fiscal year.

[Kongkon Karmaker contributed this report.]​

 

[Saif]

Authorities need to heed farmers’ grievances

WHEN a bumper harvest of potatoes is a relief for consumers, who had to pay high prices for the item even three months ago, the prospect for the producers appears bleak. Producers are faced with heavy losses as they are forced to sell their produce for prices below the production cost. Potatoes...

www.newagebd.net

Authorities need to heed farmers’ grievances
21 March, 2025, 00:00

WHEN a bumper harvest of potatoes is a relief for consumers, who had to pay high prices for the item even three months ago, the prospect for the producers appears bleak. Producers are faced with heavy losses as they are forced to sell their produce for prices below the production cost. Potatoes sell for Tk 10–12 a kilogram on the local wholesale market and for Tk 15-18 a kilogram on the local retail market while it is retailed for Tk 25–30 a kilogram in Dhaka. Producers and agricultural officials say that it costs around Tk 20 to produce a kilogram of potato this year as farmers had to pay high prices for seeds and fertiliser. While an overproduction is the visible cause for the sharp decline in the price, a lack of cold storage facilities has exacerbated the situation for farmers, especially small farmers. The Department of Agricultural Extension says that potatoes were grown on a record 5.24 lakh hectares, up 15 per cent year-on-year. The agency estimates that about 120 lakh tonnes of potatoes would be produced this year; 106 lakh tonnes of potatoes were produced in 2024.

What has added to woes of the producers is the lack of cold storage facilities. While the potato acreage and production have increased significantly over the years, the number of cold storages remains the same, leaving growers struggling to store their produce. There are 220 cold storages in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions where 75 per cent of potatoes are produced. With many farmers queuing up to store their produce, the cold storage owners have increased fees for about Tk 60 a sack. Most farmers, especially small farmers, as a result, are forced to sell their produce, incurring heavy losses, which become heavier considering that many of them took out loans at high interest rates for potato production. Farmers also allege that when they are denied space in cold storages, some hoarders and storage owners stockpile potatoes in the cold storages. Reports of such a syndicate of businesspeople and cold storage owners came up in the past, too, but the authorities did little to break the syndicate and ensure small farmers’ access to storage facilities. The authorities have also failed to set up or facilitate the establishment of cold storages.

The authorities should, therefore, address the grievances of the farmers and ensure their access to storage facilities. The agricultural authorities should also set up and help to set up more cold storages and facilitate farmers to create traditional storage facilities that can store potatoes for a few months.​

 

[Saif]

Salt, sweat and survival: Where is the farmers’ labour in the price?

There is an old tale, passed down through generations, about a king and his youngest daughter.

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Salt, sweat and survival: Where is the farmers’ labour in the price?

Photos: Mokammel Shuvo

There is an old tale, passed down through generations, about a king and his youngest daughter.

When the king asked his daughters how much they loved him, the youngest replied, "Like salt". The king, offended by what he saw as a meagre comparison, banished her to the wilderness.

Only later, when he tasted food without salt, did he understand its irreplaceable value. Filled with remorse, he brought his daughter back, honouring her for speaking a truth he had failed to grasp.

This story is more than a fable; it is a parable about the human tendency to undervalue what is essential until it is gone.

The salt farmers of Bangladesh are the modern-day embodiment of that youngest daughter. For centuries, they have toiled under the sun, harvesting salt from the earth and sea, their labour as vital to survival as the mineral itself.

Yet, like the king, society has often overlooked their worth. These farmers, who produce the salt that seasons food and sustains industries, are trapped in a cycle of exploitation, climate vulnerability and economic neglect.

Their story is not just about salt; it is about the invisible hands that sustain civilisations and the systems that fail to reward them.

Meet Nurul Absar, a 65-year-old salt farmer from Chowfaldandi village in Cox's Bazar. Like countless others, he invests everything -- his time, his sweat, his meagre savings -- into the salt fields, only to find himself questioning the very value of his labour.

"Where is my cost?" asks the farmer. "Where is my cost for polythene, water and everything I invested in my salt field, let alone the price of my own labour?"

He said that his total investment, including land rent, polythene, field preparation, water and labour, stands at Tk 320,000 for one acre. "If the weather favours, I will get a maximum of 750 maunds of salt."

At the current market price of Tk 250 per maund, Absar's total return at the end of the season would be around Tk 187,500. "If this rate continues, I will suffer a loss of Tk 132,000," he added.

Reflecting on the past three years, he said, "We earned a reasonable amount when the price ranged from Tk 350 to Tk 500 per maund -- just enough to ensure three meals a day and clothing, nothing more. I never dreamed of owning a car or land. I just want to earn enough to provide my family with good food."

Although he has dedicated himself fully to salt farming, Absar sounded frustrated. "I don't understand why I can't make a decent living although I've given my heart and soul to salt farming," he wondered.

THE BIRTH OF AN INDUSTRY

The salt industry in Bangladesh produces enough to meet local demand.

Cox's Bazar district accounts for 87 percent of the country's total salt production, while the remaining 13 percent comes from Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram district. Most salt farmers inherit the profession and rely on traditional methods.

In coastal Cox's Bazar, salt is harvested through a process that uses solar heat and seawater with high salinity. The production season runs from November to May each year.

According to the Salt Industry's Development Office in Cox's Bazar, salt cultivation first began in the region in 1960, covering around 6,774 acres of land and yielding 1.20 lakh tonnes. At the time, farmers produced 17.54 tonnes per acre.

Mohammad Zafar Ahmed Bhuiyan, deputy general manager of the office, said that the then EPSIC (now BSCIC) began salt production in the coastal region using solar methods.

"Until 1986, loans were provided to salt farmers and salt was purchased to ensure fair market prices," he said.

In 2000, the introduction of the polythene method in salt production brought revolutionary success to the industry, said Bhuiyan. This innovation led to a dramatic increase in high-quality salt production and farmers widely adopted it.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the country's salt production reached 24.37 lakh tonnes, the highest in history, against an annual demand of 25.28 lakh tonnes. During that season, salt cultivation covered 68,505 acres of land, involving 40,695 farmers.

Bhuiyan said low market prices and high land lease costs have left salt farmers frustrated. The current market price of salt is Tk 247 per maund, while production costs stand at around Tk 321.

"High quality, white, granular and mature salt is often not produced due to a lack of farmer training, while the use of diesel-powered pumps in salt fields is driving up production costs," he added.

The BSCIC official said farmers are forced to rely on local lenders, which prevents them from getting fair prices for their produce. Besides, in coastal areas, government khas land is being illegally occupied by various groups, who lease it to farmers at high rates, further increasing production costs.

SWEAT, DEBT AND DESPAIR

Crude salt produced by farmers in Cox's Bazar is sent for refining in the next stage. The industry usually relies on three types of salt mills.

"Vacuum mills account for 65 percent of the country's total salt production, while mechanical factories refine around 25 percent, and traditional mills process the remaining 10 percent of crude salt," said Shamsul Alam, president of the Traditional Salt Millers Association in Islampur, Cox's Bazar.

According to Alam, there are 15 vacuum salt factories, 42 mechanical factories and 205 traditional salt mills in the country.

"About 65 percent of the salt produced in Bangladesh is used for industrial purposes. Currently, the decline in industrial demand has pushed down salt prices at the field level," he said.

Alam also highlighted key challenges in the salt industry, including the production of immature salt, the dominance of middlemen and rising land lease costs.

Salt farmers also echoed concerns about the increasing cost of land.

"This year, the lease price for 40 decimals of land has almost doubled," said Abul Kasim of Chowfaldandi village. "Previously, we leased it for six months at Tk 30,000, but now it has jumped to Tk 50,000," he added.

Mostafa Kamal, president of the Bangladesh Salt Farmers' Welfare Parishad, said a limited group of people controls vast salt-producing areas in Cox's Bazar.

"They have cleared mangrove forests and turned the land into salt fields. These individuals lease out the land to small salt farmers and make huge profits. This syndicate is responsible for the rising land costs in salt farming," he said.

Kamal added that if farmers could lease land directly from the government at lower rates, they would benefit significantly.

QUALITY VS QUANTITY

Salt Millers Association President Alam said locally produced crude salt contains around 75 to 80 percent sodium chloride (NaCl), compared to nearly 99 percent in India.

"As a result, the refining cost in our country is higher," he said.

He also mentioned that Bangladeshi farmers often harvest salt within a week, while producing high-quality salt requires 12 to 15 days. "They prioritise quantity over quality, which ultimately affects the standard of the salt," he said.

Salt Farmers' Welfare Parishad President Kamal claimed that the NaCl content in Bangladeshi salt is around 90 percent.

He admitted that the overall quality is slightly lower, attributing it to the country's weather conditions.

Mohammed Wahidul Islam, a farmer from Kutubdia upazila in Cox's Bazar, said low-quality salt reduces their income as demand for such salt is low in the market.

"After getting early warnings about cyclones and rainfall, we are often forced to collect immature salt from the field before it has fully developed," said Islam.

WHO CONTROLS THE PRICE?

Salt farmers are forced to take loans from middlemen or intermediaries at high-interest rates, as accessing formal loans is difficult. In return, they must sell their salt to these middlemen at prices lower than the market rate.

Alam said they buy crude salt at Tk 350 per maund at the mill gate, but farmers receive only around Tk 250 per maund at the field.

"Middlemen are eating up the profit of salt farmers," he said, adding that the market price varies by at least 20 percent from the field due to their influence.

Abdul Kader, a salt farmer from Chowfaldandi village, said they sometimes have to sell salt to middlemen at lower prices because they borrow money from them in times of need.

However, Sarwar Kamal, a middleman from Kutubdia, defended their role. "We collect salt from remote fields, transport it using additional labour, and sell it to millers, making a profit of Tk 10 to Tk 20 per maund," he said.

IMPORTS AND INEQUITY

Salt farmers' associations have frequently raised concerns over imports, saying that large salt industries secure government approval by exaggerating salt production and demand data, contributing to a decline in the price of crude salt in the market.

Kamal urged the government to halt salt imports to protect local farmers.

Alam said that since the salt produced in Bangladesh has a lower NaCl content, the actual refined salt production is lower than the gross production of crude salt. As a result, industries need to import salt to meet local demand.

In the last fiscal year, the demand for salt was 25.28 lakh tonnes, while crude salt production stood at 24.37 lakh tonnes. This year, the country's demand is estimated at 26.10 lakh tonnes.

Kamal also pointed out that industries are importing edible salt under the guise of sodium sulfate, which is used in various industries.

ERRATIC SKIES, UNCERTAIN FUTURES

Nabi Hossen, a 52-year-old farmer from Chanua union of Banshkhali upazila under Chattogram, has been involved in salt farming for 22 years. However, he now faces mounting challenges due to extreme weather events, largely caused by climate change.

He said his production costs have increased significantly due to unpredictable weather patterns, including irregular rainfall and cyclones.

"Erratic rainfall puts us into uncertain conditions. Most of the time, extreme rainfall damages our salt in the field, which puts our livelihoods at risk," he said.

Between 2019 and 2023, at least 10 cyclones hit Bangladesh, causing significant damage to salt farming. These storms destroyed cultivation infrastructure and flooded salt pans, severely disrupting production.

In 2021, Cyclone Yaas washed away 52,000 tonnes of salt in Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.

Abdul Halim, a farmer from Moheshkhali upazila in Cox's Bazar, lost his entire salt yield during the cyclone. "I still carry the scars of the disaster that devastated me," he said, adding that he has yet to fully recover from the losses.​