Farmers are expecting bumper production of ginger farming in sack-method during the current season as a total of 3,467 farmers have been involved in ginger farming.
Officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a total of 69,935 sacks have been used for ginger cultivation covering an area of 131.4 hectares of land in sack-method farming in the Khulna agricultural zone.
DAE officials said in the current season with a view to increasing the production, they have increased the area for ginger farming in sack-method in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Narail districts.
In Khulna, a total of 40 hectares of land has been cultivated by a total of 276 farmers using 13,895 sacks whereas only 3,160 sacks were used last year.
In Bagerhat, a total of 18.4 hectares of land has been cultivated by a total of 116 farmers using 14,030 sacks whereas only 425 sacks were used last year.
A total of 50 hectares of land has been cultivated by a total of 805 farmers using 14,060 sacks whereas only 1,515 sacks were used last year in Satkhira district.
In Narail, a total of 23 hectares of land have been cultivated by a total of 2,270 farmers using 13,895 sacks whereas only 3160 sacks were used last year.
Talking to BSS, Acting Additional Director of Department of Agricultural Extension of Khulna region Kazi Jahangir Hossain, said that ginger can be cultivated to meet the needs of the family, as it is grown in sacks and farmers can be benefitted.
Besides, it can be an additional income for the family. Women should be engaged in farming ginger. At the same time, it costs less to cultivate ginger but gets more profit, he said.
He, however, said that no separate land is required for farming ginger in sack method.
In comparison to the last financial year a total of 13,880 sacks were used while in the current year, a total of 69,935 sacks have been used in this method meaning a total of 56,055 more sacks have been used, Kazi Jahangir Hossain said, adding that ginger farming has gained popularity remarkably in Khulna agri zone.
“The DAE has been training regarding the latest farming technologies to farmers for enhancing cultivation of ginger and other spicy crops in the region in recent years," he said.
The government provided quality seeds to farmers to enhance production of spicy crops ensuring proper crop diversification and land management to attain self-reliance on locally produced spicy crops, including ginger, he added.