RANGPUR, July 5, 2019 BSS) – Production of spicy crops remains mostly steady with an increasing trend and lucrative market price making many farmers self-reliant in last six years in Rangpur agriculture region.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) source said farmers are producing seven major varieties of spicy crops like onion, garlic, ‘Dhania’, ginger, turmeric, ‘Kalojira’ and chili in the tune of over 1.69-lakh tonnes annually in the region during the period.
After launching of the five-year term “Production, Storage and Distribution
of Quality Seeds of Pulses, Oils and Spices at Farmers Level Project’ by DAE
last year, production of these crops, including spices, is expected to
continue increasing onward in the region.
Horticulture Specialist of DAE at its regional office Khondker Md. Mesbahul
Islam said farmers started getting benefits from the newly launched project
and becoming inspired to increase production of spices, pulses and oils in
the region.
“The farmers produced over 1.73-lakh tonnes of onion, garlic, ‘Dhania’,
ginger, turmeric, ‘Kalojira’ and chili from 28,396 hectares of land during
the 2018-2019 in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari of
the region,” he said.
Production of these spicy crops stood at over 1.70-lakh tonnes during
2017-2018, over 1.73-lakh tonnes during 2016-2017, over 1.76-lakh tonnes
during 2015-2016, over 1.69-lakh tonnes during 2014-2015 and over 1.51-lakh
tonnes during 2013-2014 in the region.
“After getting assistance under the newly launched project in terms of
training, technologies, inputs and quality seed to set up exhibition plots,
farmers are showing more interests in expanded cultivation of spicy crops,”
Islam said.
Additional Director of DSAE for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said DAE is
also extending assistance to farmers in proper crop diversification, land
management and utilisation of latest technologies for large-scale farming of
spices.
He said DAE has intensified its motivational activities under the ongoing
five-year newly launched project to encourage people in farming spices on
their fallow lands and homesteads to increase its production in the region.