Khulna: Khulna is widely known for the Sundarbans and its mouthwatering shrimp. But in recent years, the region’s traditional spice, chui jhal (piper chaba), has been gaining remarkable popularity, bringing new opportunities for locals.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, chui jhal, one of the most desirable food ingredients in the southwestern region, is winning the hearts of people beyond the division and abroad, attracting more farmers, including the educated, into cultivating it. Agronomists note that the botanical name of chui jhal is piper chaba, and it resembles betel leaf vines. The roots and stems are used in cooking, giving dishes a distinctive salty flavor, particularly in the districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jashore, and Narail.
Nabadwip Mallik, a resident of Baratia village in Dumuria upazila, has become self-reliant through the cultivation of chui jhal. Since 2016, he has been successfully running Chui Nursery, selling about 70,000 saplings so far and currently nurturing around 100,000 more. His business model includes supplying saplings nationwide via courier services.
Nabadwip’s journey to entrepreneurship was marked by challenges. After unsuccessful attempts to secure employment following his graduation, he resorted to working in a multi-level marketing company, which eventually closed down. It was then that he turned to chui jhal cultivation, following the advice of a local agriculture officer. Now, his enterprise, NPN Agro Enterprise, located near the Khulna-Satkhira highway, generates substantial income from the sale of saplings and mature chui jhal, with annual earnings reaching up to Taka 30 lakh.
The success has also allowed Nabadwip to create employment opportunities, employing two men and two women at his agro farm with monthly wages ranging between Taka 25,000 to Taka 30,000. Reflecting on his journey, Nabadwip expressed satisfaction in creating jobs for others and contributing to the local economy.
Atiar Rahman, another farmer from Mechoghona village, shared the economic potential of chui jhal farming, noting that it can yield significant profits even with minimal land use. The growing interest in chui jhal cultivation has led to the establishment of numerous nurseries in Khulna and neighboring districts.
Dumuria Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Insad Ibn Amin highlighted the spice’s culinary and medicinal benefits, emphasizing the Department of Agricultural Extension’s support in promoting its cultivation. Chui jhal’s popularity extends to local restaurants, with Abbas Hotel and over 150 others in Khulna city offering dishes enriched with the spice.
The cultivation of chui jhal spans 130 hectares across four districts, producing 374 tonnes annually and engaging over 4,000 farmers. Its widespread use in various dishes and its medicinal properties have spurred demand, with prices ranging from Taka 500 to Taka 1,600 per kilogram.
Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in the Khulna region, acknowledged chui jhal as a promising agricultural product, with increasing demand driven by its health benefits.