Booming turmeric output likely at Bagha

RAJSHAHI, Sept 18: The farmers are expecting bumper turmeric production in different areas of Bagha upazila this season.
They have become more interested in turmeric cultivation this year since they got bumper yield and fair prices of the produce in the previous year.
The tender turmeric plants have been growing excellently amid favourable climatic conditions, predicting bumper output of the crop, official sources said.
Now the farmers are passing very busy time in taking care of tender turmeric plants in their fields. They are expecting a bumper turmeric yield this year. But they are also worried about its fair prices in the markets, farmers said.
According to sources at Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) of the upazila, more than 600 hectares of land have been brought under the cultivation in different areas of the upazila this year. The production target was set at 8,300 tonnes. The more farmers are getting involved in turmeric cultivation than the previous year.
 Turmeric growers said they have been expecting bumper turmeric output following excellent growth of their plants amid adequate rainfall this season. Now they are passing very busy time in take care of tender jute plants in the fields.
The growth of tender turmeric plants is very well in this year. The attack of insects is very low due to the favourable climate and proper nursing, they added.
 Turmeric grower Abdur Razzak of Gochor village in the upazila said that due to favourable weather conditions he achieved bumper production of the spice the last year and got good profit. So, he has brought more land under the cultivation this current year.
He cultivated different species of turmeric like Dimlabari-1, Sonamukhi, Gongiya at three bighas of land this year. Those species can produce 45 to 50 maunds of turmeric at per bigha of lands. The turmeric was being sold at Tk 800 to 1,000 per maund last year.
The total cultivation cost was Tk 8,000 to 10,000 per bigha of lands. He earned Tk 50,000 to 60,000 at per bigha production in the last year. "The price would increase this year. I am expecting bumper production this year," he hoped.
Nazim Uddin of Kuyashabaria village and Sohel Rana of Hamidakura village of the municipality said they are also expecting a bumper turmeric production in the current year following the well growth of the tender turmeric plants.
They cultivated different species- Dimlabari-1, Sonamukhi, and Gongiya at their fields. Nazim Uddin have got 15 maunds turmeric cultivating 40 kg Dinlabari-1 specie turmeric in the last year. Now the dry turmeric is being sold Tk 3,500 to 6,000 per maund in the markets.
Sohel also got a bumper production in the last year. But they are a little worried about the market price this year. They urged the government to set up seeds storehouse here for the sake of farmers, they added.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Sabina Begum said farmers can easily cultivate turmeric at high and shadow lands where the other crop would not grow well. The farmers are showing more interest now in turmeric production due to good market prices. They are looking forward to a booming production this year as well, she added.