Turmeric farming turns lucrative in Jhenidah areas

Our Correspondent JHENIDAH, Nov 12: Cultivation of turmeric, a kind of ground spice, has gained popularity in Jhenidah and adjoining districts due to its high price. Farmers are now planting turmeric commercially. But it was not so even five years ago, when this herb grew without care on otherwise fallow lands, plot boundaries and backyards of homesteads. In 2005, turmeric was cultivated in only 200 hectares of land. According to district agriculture extension department - this season 200 hectares of land have been brought under turmeric cultivation in Kaliganj upazila of this district. Vegetables are also being cultivated with turmeric as mixed crops, and so farmers get additional profit. In 2008, the price of turmeric suddenly shot up. A kilogram of finished turmeric powder went up to Tk 360, whereas earlier it was sold at only Tk 70-80 per kg, said Rahaman Ali, a trader of the area. Turmeric, specially Tile and local variety Snider, has huge demand in the market and wholesalers from distant areas of the country come here to buy it, said another trader Rafiqul.