In Panchbibi Upazila of Joypurhat, a cluster of villages including Balighata and Patabuka have earned fame for producing arum lobe—a once-overlooked vegetable that’s now a year-round income source and export commodity.

Beginning in the 1980s, local farmers discovered that arum lobe grows well in various soil types and yields strong profits. Now, the vegetable is sent to major domestic markets and exported to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United States, after being frozen for shipment.

A local wholesale market has emerged near Panchbibi Mohila College, where up to 300 workers are involved in daily trading. This “12-month vegetable” has become the economic backbone of the area.