Cultivation of ginger has brought smiles on the faces of the farmers of Taraganj Upazila in Rangpur district, as they are getting comparatively more profit through the cultivation of the spicy crop.
A good number of farmers who once used to cultivate paddy in their fields are now cultivating ginger as the cultivation of the crop has become more lucrative than the cultivation of other crops, sources said.
Disappointed over low price of paddy during last few years, many farmers of the Upazila started the cultivation of ginger with new zeal and vigour this season. This time their efforts proved successful, as they have already earned windfall profit by selling their produce.
Mozibar a farmer of Burirhat village under the upazila said “I cultivated ginger on my farmlands this season instead of paddy as the low price of the paddy disheartened me last season,” he said. “I earned Tk 4 lakh 55 thousand by cultivating ginger on 3 acres of land this season”, he said.
Witnessing his success many other farmers of his village and adjacent villages have become interested in its cultivation on their homesteads and farmlands, he added.
Abdul Mannan another farmer of Matialpara village under the upazila said, last season he had to spend around Tk 14,000 to cultivate paddy of one acre of land. But he earned net profit only Tk 16,000 by selling the crop. Being frustrated over the low price of paddy he cultivated ginger on the same land this season and has already earned Tk 1 lakh 50 thousand as net profit. He is quite happy with the profit he has earned so far, he further said.
Upazila DAE officer Samir Chandra said cultivation of ginger has increased in recent times in the Upazila, as it has become more lucrative than the cultivation of other crops. The soil of many areas in the Upazila is also suitable for ginger cultivation. A total of 2,032 acres of land have been brought under ginger cultivation in the upazila during the current season, he added.
