In Bangladesh's Pabna district, farmers across all nine upazilas have intensified eggplant cultivation, responding to high vegetable prices in the market. Ishwardi and Pabna Sadar upazilas emerge as the primary brinjal production areas. Despite their efforts, the discrepancy between farmgate and consumer prices persists, with farmers selling eggplants at approximately $0.37 to $0.42 per kg, whereas the retail price escalates to $0.74 to $0.84 per kg.
The Department of Agricultural Extension reports that 1,301 hectares are dedicated to eggplant farming in the district, highlighting the crop's significance. Daily, 10 to 12 trucks transport eggplants to various marketplaces, including Dhaka's Karwan Bazaar and Jatrabari. The value chain involves local wholesalers and retailers, contributing to the price increase at the consumer level. Despite the influx of winter vegetables, eggplant prices remain high, underscoring the challenges faced by farmers like Abdul Khalek Sarder, who anticipates a marginal profit from his cultivation. Wholesalers, on their part, assert their limited profit margins after accounting for logistics and quality control. The Pabna DAE identifies three main eggplant varieties cultivated in the district, emphasizing the area's agricultural diversity.
Source: The Financial Express