NATORE, Nov 27: The cultivation of garlic increases in two Upazilas (UZs)- Gurudaspur and Boraigrame of the
district.
The harvesting of Aman Paddy has almost finished. Under this situation, the farmers of the two upazila have begun garlic cultivation widely on muddy land without plough. Now they are very busy with this crop.
Agriculture officials and farmers said, several steps like preparation of land, seed, fertiliser etc are taken for any kind of crop production. But garlic cultivation on muddy land at some upazilas under Chalon Beel area of Natore district is an exceptional method. This method of garlic production is known in this area as ''Garlic cultivation without plough".
They further said, the farmers of this area have been cultivating this crop to adjust the loss caused by flood. Not only that other crops like bangi, watermelon, kalijira, methi etc are also planted on the same land as friendly crops.
Agriculture Officer of Gurudaspur Upazila Md. Abdul Karim said, thousands of labourers are getting job opportunity in the land following this cultivation. For this a labourer spots have been created at Nayabazaar, Kachhikata and Hashmari market points under Gurudaspur Upazila and Razzak Road crossing point at Boraigrame Upazila. The labourers go to different agriculture fields every morning for works on contract basis. They get Taka 200 to 300 for clearing one maund garlic as labour cost.
Bimol Kundu and Didar Hossain of village Shidhuli under Gurudaspur Upazila said, Tk 18 to 20 thousand is spent for one bigha of garlic cultivation including seeds, fertilisers and labourers.
"We get 25 to 30 maunds of crop from per bigha and Taka 7 to 10 thousand as profit," he also said.
They further said, this time the market price of garlic is lower than the previous year's. So they are cultivating it considering the situation.
On the other hand, Shamsul Alam, president of Jathian Farmers' Association said he has cultivated garlic on two bighas of land this year. He is expecting profit of Tk 18 thousand from two bighas of land. He further said, the market price of garlic is good. So, many farmers of this area are interested in cultivating garlic beside other crops.
Rafiqul Islam, deputy director of District Agriculture Office, Natore informed that the target of garlic cultivation without plough has been fixed at 25,455 hectares of land in the district this year. The farmers already achieved 11 thousand hectares of land up to November 21.
He further said 75% garlics are produced in Gurudaspur and Boraigrame Upazila in the district. Necessary supports are being given to the farmers at field level, he added.
