Ginger farming in sacks, invented by Bogura Spice Research Center, will create a new bright prospect in agriculture. Ginger farming in sacks method is gaining popularity as it is cultivated anywhere, including the shaded areas of fallow land. Ginger farming in this method will fulfill the demand of the families of the farmers. Moreover, they will be able to earn more.
The agriculture-related organisations are working to motivate the farmers. Farmers of Bogura are also getting interested in farming ginger in sack-method as the cultivation process is easy and the production cost is low. Officials of the related organisations believe that it will reduce import dependence and move towards self-sufficiency in ginger cultivation.
Although ginger is a spice crop, it is used as herbal medicine. It is also used in food, pickles, medicine and making fragrance. Ginger is used as a remedy of many diseases. Although ginger has many uses, it is import dependent. The price of daily commodities increases at one time of the year. Department of Agricultural Extension along with Spice Research Center has been working to increase the cultivation for a long time.
According to the Spice Research Center sources, the Spice Research Center invented the ginger cultivation method in sacks seven years ago. However, cultivation in this method has increased in the last two years. It can be cultivated anywhere, including the shaded areas of fallow land. It is cheaper to cultivate ginger in sacks instead of cultivating it on land. This method is more profitable. Less soil-related diseases are seen in this method. Moreover, there is no fear from heavy rain or flood.
Farmers can grow other crops with ginger if they cultivate ginger in this way. So, the farmers are getting interested in it. Farmers have started growing ginger following this method adjacent to their houses, on fallow land and fields.
In the current year, more than 3 lakh sacks of ginger have been cultivated in the district. Among those, a farmer of Gabtali, Nurul Islam, cultivated 12,500 sacks. He established Sabash Bangladesh Agricultural Farm in Dakkhin Saratali area of Gabtali Upazila. He has grown ginger in sacks in various places around his house, including fallow land. Besides, he is getting additional crops in the same land by planting papaya and lemon trees. By doing this, shade is created on the land. Moreover, he is benefited by cultivating other companion crops. He said that he cultivated 12,500 sacks of ginger on four and a half bigha land. You will get 1 to 3 kg of ginger from each sack. He has planted ginger in sacks in litchi and lemon gardens along with fallow areas. This year his ginger plant has grown very well. He is hoping for a good harvest.
Nurul Islam believes that agriculture is the key to life and livelihood. Our civic life will be improved with the development of agriculture. He is working with the aim of marketing after meeting the family needs by growing the import-dependent crop. Entrepreneur Nurul Islam also said that many people are coming to see his method. Many have asked for ginger seeds from him. He wants to spread this method among other people as well. So, the dependency on import of ginger will be decreased.
Agricultural entrepreneur Ahsanul Kabir Dalim said that farming should be done with knowledge and understanding. One must know how much shade and how much sun will be needed on the land for ginger farming in this method. We will get success after knowing well about the farming method.
Bogura Department of Agricultural Extension deputy director, agriculturist Md Matlubar Rahman, said ginger is an import-dependent crop. The price of ginger increases at a special time every year. So farmers are being encouraged to grow ginger in sacks. Ginger is being cultivated in more than 3 lakh sacks in the district. A total of 300 tons of ginger will be produced, he hoped.
Senior Scientific Officer of Bogura Spice Research Center, Dr Mahmudul Hasan Suja, said this technology invented by spice research has become popular now. If ginger is cultivated in the land, a disease occurs. In that traditional process, there is a possibility that the entire crop of the land will be destroyed. So the farmers are discouraged to cultivate ginger in the land. If ginger is grown in sacks, it will be confined to that sack. There is no possibility of infection in other sacks. So, ginger cultivation in sacks is becoming popular.
