Chia Seed- a versatile cereal from Latin America, is now being successfully cultivated in Badalgacchi upazila of Naogaon district.
Chia Seed looks like the grain of sesame or mustard. It contains huge antioxidants and a major source of carbohydrates. Moreover, Chia seed contains Fatty Acid, Minerals, Vitamins and various useful ingredients which resist erosion of the body, helps to decrease weight and aids to fill up various deficiencies of the body. According to Agriculturists Chia seed contains five-time more Iron than that of milk and it is enriched in Omega-3 Fatty Acid which is available in sea fish Salmon.
Abdur Rouf of Parashrampur village under Mathurapur union of Badalgachhi upazila has cultivated Chia Seed in one bigha of land for the first time. He is expecting to earn Tk 70, 000 to 80,000 profit by selling the produced crop whereas he spent only Tk 15,000 to 20,000 to cultivate it.
Chia Seed is being used as a nutritious edible oil in the countries of Latin America, Europe and other countries of the world. It is used mainly as cooking or edible oil, for making salad and burgers and for herbal treatment.
Sabab Farhan, Agriculture Officer of Badalgachhi upazila informed, the Scientific name of the Chia Seed is Salvia Hispnica belonging to the Lamiaceae family.
It contains huge anti-oxidants which increase the disease-resistant power of the body. Barind Multipurpose Development Authority and the Department of Agriculture are cooperating with farmer Abdur Rouf to cultivate the Chia Seed in his field.
Abdur Rashid further informed Chia seed is high-yield variety and also profitable and he is expecting to earn Tk 80,000 profit from the harvest of one bigha of land. Many farmers of his village and the neighbouring villages are being interested to cultivate the crop by watching the success of Rouf.
Mostafizur Rahman, Executive Engineer of BMDA, Rajshahi, informed Chia seed has been experimentally cultivated on one bigha of land in Badalgachhi of Naogaon. Now, the cultivation being successful and profiteering, it should be spread to all over the country.
Nutritionist Shaila Sabrin informed Chia seed helps with weight loss and to stay healthy. It is an ideal food for cardiac patients. Fibre contents of Chia seed reduce the bad cholesterol (LDL) and help to increase good cholesterol(HDL). It also helps to increase the beneficial fat in the blood. Chia Seed is also a highly suggested food for diabetic patients, she added.