Farmers in eight districts of Chalan Beel region, including, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Chapainawabganj, Natore, Bogura, Joypurhat, Pabna, Sirajganj, are busy cultivating garlic after harvesting the Aman crop.
They are planting garlic on the same land where they cultivated Aman paddy earlier, but without plowing the land. This is a special method where garlics are planted on the mud without plowing the land. This year, the regional agricultural office has set a target of cultivating garlic on 39,604 hectares of land across eight districts of the Chalan Beel region.
However, the overall cost of garlic cultivation has increased for farmers compared to previous years.
Local farmers said that despite the rising costs of irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, and labor, their interest in garlic cultivation has grown due to good prices last year and profits from companion crops like watermelon and muskmelon.
In the no-plowing method, garlic cloves are planted in rows on muddy soil enriched with silt at the beginning of November. Once planted, the fields are covered with straw. Before planting, the farmers apply 25 kg to 30 kg of TSP, 25 kg of potash, 20 kg of gypsum, and 2 kg of boron on per bigha of land. Around 25 to 30 days after planting, the farmers again apply 15 kg to 20 kg of urea on per bigha of land, followed by irrigation. Later, they apply urea on a second round after 50 days. The garlic is harvested after 95 to100 days of planting.
According to data from the Rajshahi and Bogura regional agriculture offices, this season, the target was set to cultivate garlic on 28,185 hectares of land across four districts of Rajshahi region and 11,419 hectares of land across four districts of Bogura region. This includes 5,520 hectares in Rajshahi, 765 hectares in Naogaon, 3,700 hectares in Chapainawabganj, 18,200 hectares in Natore, 600 hectares in Bogura, 287 hectares in Joypurhat, 9,632 hectares in Pabna, and 900 hectares in Sirajganj.
Earlier data shows that in the 2021 season, garlic was cultivated on 51,433 hectares of land in these regions. In 2022, the crop was cultivated on 44,469 hectares of land, and in 2023, it was cultivated on 37,570 hectares of land. Over these three seasons, 1,144,707 metric tonnes of garlic were produced.
Reports indicate that this year, the total cost of planting garlic on per bigha of land is Tk 53,000, including Tk 10,000 for taking land on lease, Tk 5,000 for fertilizers and pesticides, Tk 30,000 for seeds and Tk 8,000 labor. Last year, the cost was around Tk 42,000 to Tk 45,000.
Farmers Imon Sarker, Mahbur, Gafur Sarker, Ashraful, and Moin Uddin that most farmers rely on loans for garlic cultivation. Despite annual fluctuations in garlic prices, last year they incurred an average cost of Tk 45,000 on per bigha of land and achieved yields of 20 to 22 maunds, making a profit due to favorable market prices. Although costs have risen this season, they are hopeful for a bumper harvest if weather conditions remain favorable. Additionally, they are optimistic about making profits from companion crops like watermelon and muskmelon, grown alongside garlic at the same cost.
The agriculture office noted that garlic planting has already started in areas like Gurudaspur, Singra, Baraigram in Natore, Chatmohar, Handial in Pabna, and Tarash, Raiganj in Sirajganj. Alongside garlic planting, people in these regions are also engaged in garlic processing.
Additional Director of Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension Director, Sarker Shafiuddin, said over the past 15 years, garlic cultivation using the no-plowing method has gained popularity in the Chalan Beel region. Alongside the garlic cultivation, companion cropping of watermelon and muskmelon is helping the local farmers to change their economic condition. Given the good prices last season, this year’s garlic cultivation target has exceeded expectations. If the weather remains favorable, farmers can expect a good yield this year as well.
