Sesame harvest preparations under way in Ruma's jhum fields, farmers hope for a bumper crop if heavy rain stays away
Preparations to harvest sesame are under way in the jhum fields on the hills of Ruma upazila in Bandarban. As part of the preparations, farmers are busy cutting sesame plants and tying them into bundles, known locally as bodha. After drying in the sun, the crop will be brought home from the bundles within a week.
Farmers said that although the sesame plants grew well in the hill jhum fields last year, excessive rain at harvest time meant the yield was not good. What little was brought home was of poor quality, and they were forced to sell it for only 4,000 taka per maund.
Melan Marma, a resident of Bottalipara in Ruma Sadar Union, said no heavy rain has fallen yet this year. Jhum sesame farmers therefore hope they will be able to bring home a good harvest and sell it at a good price.
Officials at the upazila agriculture office said about 600 jhum-farming families are growing sesame this year as a companion crop alongside jhum rice, marfa, maize, chal kumra, sweet pumpkin and various vegetables. With favourable weather, the prospect of a bumper sesame harvest is strongest in this kharif season.
Upazila agriculture officer AKM Faridul Haque said that if there is no heavy rain in the next 15 days, a bumper sesame crop will be a matter of good fortune for the farmers. If the sesame can be brought home at the right time, farmers will benefit financially from selling it, he said.
Mohammad Khalilur Rahman and raw-material traders at Ruma market said they are preparing to buy white sesame at 4,000 to 5,000 taka per maund and black sesame at 3,000 to 4,000 taka per maund.
However, one trader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he has already started buying white sesame at 6,000 to 6,500 taka per maund depending on quality. If everything goes well, he will buy black sesame at 5,000 taka per maund.
Traders said prices could fall if the weather turns unfavourable, because rain reduces the quality of sesame and buying at a high price would then mean losses.
