Baliakandi in Rajbari is known as a fertile land for betel cultivation. This upazila has been famous for betel for a long time. Two varieties of betel are usually produced here, sweet and sachi. The sweet betel here was exported to eight countries to meet local demand. Betel export activities have been suspended since the Corona period. Farmers say that betel cultivation will increase further with government sponsorship, easy-to-use loan facilities, an increase in the price of betel, and the development of medicines for betel diseases. If the betel export activities are started, it will be possible to earn crores of taka every year. And the Agriculture Department says that betel farmers are always advised.

According to the Agriculture Department, the weather and environment of Baliakandi Upazila are very suitable for betel cultivation. Betel is extensively cultivated in the areas of Arkandi, Betenga, Char Arkandi, Ilishkol, Swarp Betenga, Khalkula, Baliakandi, Baharpur of Baliakandi. There are 714 betel plantations here. Out of these, 156 are Sachi betel plantations and 558 are sweet betel plantations. This year, betel has been cultivated on 74 hectares of land.

Betel farmer Sujit Kumar Sarkar said, "There were 3 betel plantations. This year, due to low betel prices and high prices of fertilizers, pesticides and labor, I have demolished two of them. Now, there is only one betel plantation. Due to the ban on betel exports abroad, betel farming is facing losses."

Betel farmers Nikbar Mandal, Shafiq Molla, Jalal Mallick said that they have been cultivating betel since the time of their ancestors. Although betel cultivation is profitable, they sometimes face various problems. If the leaves or trees are diseased, they do not get proper advice. Sachi and sweet betel are grown in abundance in this region. The sweet betel here meets the needs of Rajbari and neighboring districts and is exported to India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. This earns a lot of foreign currency. If the farmers here get government sponsorship and easy loans, they would be more enthusiastic about betel cultivation.

They said that betel nut exports have been suspended since the outbreak of the coronavirus. After that, last year, betel nut plants suffered from root rot disease and suffered losses. Although they were hoping for a profit this year, they are facing difficulties due to the lack of betel nut prices. If betel nut diseases occur, they are in danger. Agricultural officials cannot give any advice either. Therefore, they demand a study on the matter.

The farmers also said that even though betel is a cash crop, they do not receive any support. They are not given any kind of support from the agricultural office. If the government provides them with interest-free loans, it will be possible to make betel cultivation more profitable and popular.

Baliakandi Upazila Agriculture Officer Ratan Kumar Ghosh said, "The sweet betel nut here used to be exported to eight countries to meet the demand of the area. Now the export is stopped. We give various suggestions to the betel nut farmers. We hope that betel nut exports will start again."