Ctg region witnesses low pulse production as farmers shift to vegetables, others 

Highlights:

• Pulse output down 11% in Chattogram region over two years
• FY25 pulse output: 90,927 tonnes (from 102,316 tonnes in FY23)
• Farmers shift crops from pulses and spices to vegetables and Boro rice
• Grass pea dominates pulses, followed by Felon and mung bean
• Spice production also dropped 28% in two years to 29,883 tonnes

Chattogram region has witnessed a drastic fall of pulse production by 11, 389 tonnes over the past two years, forcing the authorities concerned to import the protein item from abroad to meet local demand.   

Farmers in the region containing Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Noakhali, Feni and Lakshmipur are increasingly shifting away from pulse and spice cultivation in favour of vegetables and Boro rice, which caused the shortfall, according to agriculture officials.

Data from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) show that pulse production stood at 90,927 tonnes in the fiscal year 2024–25, down from 102,316 tonnes in FY 2022–23, marking a decline of more than 11%.

Officials said the drop mainly to reduced cultivable land and higher profitability of vegetables and Boro paddy compared to pulses, with farmers increasingly opting for crops that offer quicker returns and better market prices. 

According to DAE statistics for 2024–25, grass pea (Khesari) accounted for the highest share of pulse production at 50,175 tonnes, followed by Felon at 23,188 tonnes and mung bean at 14,991 tonnes. Lentil production stood at 1,958 tonnes, while peas accounted for 568 tonnes. Black gram output was limited to 104 tonnes, and chickpea production was negligible at just six tonnes.

The data shows that pulse output had peaked at 102,316 tonnes in 2022–23, rising from 100,391 tonnes in 2021–22. However, production started declining thereafter, dropping to 92,423 tonnes in 2023–24 before falling further in 2024–25.

Cultivated land under pulses has also steadily decreased. While 85,121 hectares were used for pulse cultivation in 2021–22, the area declined to 76,446 hectares by 2024–25.

In addition to falling pulse production, in 2024–25 total spice output stood at 29,883 tonnes, compared to 41,641 tonnes in 2022–23—representing a decline of more than 28 percent in two years.

During the latest fiscal year, onion production was recorded at 2,947 tonnes, garlic at 1,966 tonnes, coriander at 4,854 tonnes and chilli at 20,116 tonnes. Spice production had earlier stood at 39,406 tonnes in 2021–22 and increased slightly in 2022–23 before declining sharply in the following years.

The area under spice cultivation has fluctuated but generally remained lower than earlier levels. In 2024–25, spices were cultivated on 17,384 hectares, compared to 18,264 hectares in 2022–23.

Sourav Das, deputy assistant agriculture official of the DAE in the Chattogram region, said farmers are moving away from pulses as other crops offer higher profits within the same time frame. 

"After harvesting Aman paddy, lands that were once used for pulse cultivation are now being used for vegetables and Boro paddy," he said.

Data from the Plant Quarantine Centre at Chattogram Seaport show that in 2024–25, imports included 550,215 tonnes of lentils, 628,795 tonnes of peas and 8,723 tonnes of mung beans. Among spices, 14,247 tonnes of onions and 109,890 tonnes of garlic were imported through the port.