A view of ginger faming by using newly-developed sack method at Jonashur village in Kasiani upazila of Gopalganj district — FE Photo GOPALGANJ, Nov 02: Ginger cultivation in sacks or geo-textile bags has attained a fabulous success in Kasiani and Muksudpur upazilas of Gopalganj, causing a stir in the district's agriculture sector.
Sources said farmers in the two upazilas of Gopalganj started commercial farming of the spice by using the method one year ago.
Local Agriculture Office sources said cultivation of ginger in sacks or geo bags is becoming more and more popular among the farmers of Kasiani and Muksudpur upazilas in the district.
At least 245 farmers in the two upazilas began cultivation of ginger in sacks or geo-textile bags on an experimental basis and achieved success.
Selina Begum, 40, a female farmer of Khalisakandi village in Maharajpur union of Muksudpur upazila, said she cultivated ginger in her homestead in 500 sacks and their growth was satisfactory.
Weather condition was favourable and she got about two kilograms of ginger from plants in each sack. She spent Tk50 only on producing ginger in a sack while the current market price of two kgs of the spice is Tk200 at the rate of Tk100 per kg.
Bahauddin Sheikh, upazila agriculture officer (UAO) of Muksudpur, told the FE. sack ginger cultivation is being amply popular among the farmers particularly women who can cultivate it in the homestead area in a limited or large scale.
The UAO said 125 farmers including male and female are involved in cultivation of ginger in sacks this year with the assistance of the Department of Agricultural Extension of Muksudpur upazila.
The UAO added March to April is the optimum time for planting rhizome that is used as seed. Normally, 40 to 60 gram size rhizome is ideal for bumper production.
Around 10-12 kg fertile soil, one kg vermicompost, 20 gram TSP/DAP fertilisers, 10 gram MOP fertiliser, five gram gypsum, 10 gram Cartap, five gram Zine should be mixed properly during sack preparation for ginger cultivation.
Growers got about two kg ginger from each sack, whose current market price is around Tk200 but production costs Tk50 only, the UAO said.
One the other hand, Kazi Ezazul Karim, UAO, Kasiani, told the FE a total of 120 hectares of land has been brought under sack ginger farming in the upazila this season, involving both male and female peasants.
Ginger farming this way is more profitable and production cost is much less.
Consequently, farmers in the region are becoming increasingly interested about the cultivation method.
The UAO further said one kg ginger is selling at Tk 100 to 120 at different markets in the district while farmers have to spend Tk 50 only against production of ginger in one sack or geo bag. As a result, growers get double profit from ginger produced by using the method, UAO said.
Md Murad Kazi, 40, a ginger farmer of Jonashur village under Maheshpur union of Kasiani upazila, said he cultivated ginger by applying the method in 250 bags near his house and the plants' growth is satisfactory; if the weather condition remains favourable, he will get about 12.50 maunds of ginger, whose market price is Tk50,000 and production cost about Tk12,000.
Md Raju Kazi, 38, another ginger farmer of Shibgati village in Kasiani upazila, said he cultivated ginger in 240 bags near his homestead spending Tk 11,500. He expects to get about 12 maunds of ginger, if the weather condition remains unchanged. The market price of his expected produce will be Tk48,000.
Raju also said, "This farming method of ginger is more profitable and I think growers in this region will follow this method to get high hefty from their produce."
Abdul Kadir Sarder, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Gopalganj, told the FE ginger cultivation by using the sack method is becoming amply popular among the farmers.
Farmers in the region will be more benefited if they follow this method for ginger farming, he said.
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