(BSS) - Khulna is widely known for the Sundarbans and its mouthwatering shrimp. But in recent years, the region`s traditional spice chui jhal has been gaining remarkable popularity, bringing new opportunities for locals.

Chui jhal, one of the most desirable food ingredients in the south-western region, is winning the hearts of people beyond the division and abroad, attracting more farmers, including the educated, to cultivate it.

According to agronomists, the botanical name of chui jhal is Piper chaba. Chui plants resemble betel leaf vines. Its roots and stems are cut into pieces and used in cooking. Chui jhal, which tastes salty, is widely known as a spice in the south-western districts, namely Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Jashore, and Narail.

Abu Zafar, a farmer from Srirampur village under Naihati Union in Rupsa Upazila of Khulna district, has achieved notable success by cultivating chui jhal in his mahogany orchard beside his home.

Along with growing various other crops, he has been cultivating the spice for nearly 20 years. He has planted chui jhal vines on about fifty mahogany trees.

Speaking to BSS, the farmer said that depending on the size, a single chui jhal plant can sell for between Taka 5,000 and Taka 30,000. The plants become ready for sale within two to three years of planting.

Buyers from different areas of Khulna and Rupsa frequently visit Zafar`s orchard to purchase the spice. Although the profit is moderate, he says he never faces losses.

Local chui jhal growers said that the plants sometimes die due to heavy rains and other environmental reasons. However, with proper care, chui jhal can yield more than other crops.

It does not require any pesticides, though the use of organic fertilizer is necessary when the plants weaken. This helps maintain the quality of the chui jhal, according to local farmers.

Another farmer, Nabadwip Mallik, a resident of Baratia village under Atlia Union in Dumuria Upazila, has also become self-reliant through the cultivation of chui jhal.

Nabadwip has been running Chui Nursery since 2016. So far, he has sold about 70,000 saplings, each bringing Taka 40 on average. He currently has around 1,00,000 saplings in his nursery.

People from different parts of the country buy saplings from Nabadwip`s nursery, and he supplies them through courier services.

"I have supplied saplings to people from all 64 districts in the country. Several farmers have set up nurseries. They are all succeeding," Nabadwip said.

After completing his graduation, Nabadwip tried his luck in various offices in search of a job but failed to catch the proverbial `golden deer` of employment.

Eventually, out of frustration, he joined a multi-level marketing (MLM) company. Though the business initially went well, it abruptly shut down, leading him back to unemployment.

In such a difficult situation, about five to six years ago, he started cultivating chui jhal based on advice from a local agriculture officer.

The first couple of years were challenging, but now he faces no issues. Every month, he sells chui jhal saplings worth Taka 1 to 1.5 lakh and mature chui jhal worth Taka 1.5 to 2 lakh in local and national markets. He earns Taka 25 to 30 lakh every year just by selling chui jhal and its seedlings.

He supplies chui jhal saplings and the spice itself to different parts of the country through courier services. Each sapling is priced between Taka 40 to 50, while chui jhal sells at Taka 1,000 to 1,200 per kilogram. His products are in high demand in local markets as well.

Nabadwip employs two men and two women at his agro farm, paying them monthly wages totaling Taka 25,000 to 30,000.

Another farmer, Atiar Rahman of Mechoghona village, said one can start earning from chui jhal farming a year after planting, and it is possible to generate up to Taka 4 lakh annually within three to four years if the crop is grown on only two to three decimals of land.

Like Nabadwip and Atiar, hundreds of farmers, including educated students, are cultivating chui jhal in Dumuria and elsewhere in the Khulna agriculture zone.

Small and large chui jhal nurseries have sprung up in many villages of Khulna. Farmers from other districts are also showing interest in cultivating it and are sourcing saplings from farmers based in Khulna.

Dumuria Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Insad Ibn Amin remarked that the stem or creeper of the chui jhal plant is used as a spice. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) is actively promoting its cultivation in Dumuria.

In the Khulna region, chui jhal is used in cooking meat, enhancing flavor without harming health. It improves the taste of curries and carries medicinal properties in its roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits.

According to the agricultural department, chui jhal is being cultivated on 130 hectares of land in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, and Narail, which collectively produce 374 tonnes of the spice annually. Over 4,000 farmers are involved in its cultivation in the four districts.

Taking advantage of its popularity, many restaurants have sprung up in and outside the southwestern city. Food lovers from different parts of Khulna and other parts of the country flock to these restaurants to taste dishes prepared with chui jhal.

Abbas Hotel, located in the Chuknagar area of Khulna city, is known for its mutton dish prepared with chui jhal. More than 150 restaurants in the city center also feature dishes based on this spice.

Chui cuttings can be planted on higher ground. The months of Baishakh-Jaistha and Ashwin-Kartik are the best time for planting.

Chui jhal is sold at Taka 500 to Taka 1,600 per kilogram. The lower part of the plant is the most expensive, while stems and leaves are also sold at good prices.

Talking to BSS, DAE Khulna region`s Additional Director Md Rafiqul Islam said, "Chui jhal is a potential agricultural product in the south and southwest of the country. Demand is increasing day by day due to its medicinal properties."