Photo : BSS

RANGPUR, April 25, 2025 (BSS) - The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has fixed a target of producing 52,675 tonnes of ginger from 3,954 hectares of land in Rangpur agriculture region during the current Kharif-1 season.
 
"Farmers are sowing ginger seeds and seedlings in full swing in their crop lands in all five districts of the region," Deputy Director of the DAE for Rangpur region Agriculturist Md Afzal Hossain told BSS today.
 
The enthusiastic farmers are expanding ginger cultivation in crop lands, homesteads and fallow lands this time after getting repeated bumper production and rewarding prices in recent years.
 
"Farmers have already sown ginger seeds and seedlings in 2,291 hectares of land which is almost 57.94 percent against the fixed farming target, in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts of the region as the process continues," he said.
 
The DAE and other agriculture-related departments, agencies and institutions are providing training to farmers with the latest technology and commercial banks are providing them with easy-to-use agri-loans to popularize the cultivation of ginger and other spice crops.
 
"As a result, cultivation of ginger and other spicy crops is expected to increase in all five districts of Rangpur agricultural region this time following various pragmatic steps taken by the present interim government," said Afzal Hossain told BSS.
 
The government is providing quality seeds and training to farmers to increase the production of spice crops by ensuring proper crop diversification and using the latest technology to achieve self-sufficiency in locally produced spice crops.  

Talking to BSS, farmers Isahaque Ali, Moinuddin Ahmed, Lutfar Rahman, Abul Hossain and Nur Alam of different villages in Rangpur said they are sowing ginger seeds and seedlings in their crop lands, homesteads and fallow lands this season.
 
Expressing happiness over the present market price of ginger, farmer Ariful Haque Batul of village Najirdigar said farmers are selling gingers cultivated during the last season at rates between Taka 120 to Taka 125 per kilogram to local ginger traders and wholesalers. 
 
Retail vegetable trader Hafizur Rahman at City Bazar Market in Rangpur city today said vegetable retailers are selling ginger at rates between Taka 120 and Taka 150 per kilogram in local markets after purchasing the same from wholesalers at rates between Taka 115 and Taka 140 per kilogram.
 
Talking to BSS, Deputy Director at Burirhat Horticulture Centre in Rangpur of the DAE Agriculturist Dr Md Abu Sayem appreciated the interim government for taking steps through the different Agri-related organizations to increase production of spicy crops.
 
The production of ginger and other spice crops can be greatly increased by bringing fallow and barren lands and homesteads under the cultivation of high-yielding spice crops like ginger and turmeric.
 
"Enthusiastic farmers are expected to cultivate various spice crops, including ginger, on more land this time to further increase production to meet local demand and achieve self-sufficiency in locally produced spice crops," he hoped.