Farmers in Bogra are hoping for a good yield of chilli after the recent floods caused a heavy loss.
They are currently spending long hours in the fields, hoping that their production will surpass the target set by the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE).
Sonatola Upazila agriculture office sources said the farmers are producing chilli on 1,760 hectares of land this year. However, they said that the actual number is likely to be much greater as there is great hope among the farmers with chilli production. Last year, the target was to produce chilli on 1,326 hectares of land.
Farmers in one municipality and seven union parishads, including Tekanichukainar, Khabulia, Jontiyarara, Vikenerpara, and Maheshpara, have planted chillies in advance this year.
Farmer Anarul Islam said he has cultivated hybrid Bijli and Bijli Plus chilli on seven bigha land this year.
Shamsul Huq, another farmer, said he has cultivated Sonic and Bijli 2020 chilli on his 3 bigha land.
They said they want to recover the losses incurred due to the flood with chilli production.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Sohrab Hossain said farmers cultivated different varieties of chillis in Sonatola. Every year, farmers look forward to chilli production as it is profitable. Hopefully, this year the farmers will get a bumper yield and recover their losses, the official added.