Asim Sayeed, Jibannagar (Chuadanga)

Every year, a large amount of cumin is imported from abroad to meet the country's demand. However, agricultural scientists are trying to develop cumin varieties suitable for cultivation in Bangladesh to reduce import dependence. However, there has been no success yet.

Like some other regions of the country, experimental cumin cultivation has also started in Jibannagar of Chuadanga. Agricultural entrepreneur Jahidul Islam of Santoshpur village of the upazila is dreaming of cultivating Bari-1 variety of cumin after receiving training from the Bogra Spice Research Center.

This young agricultural entrepreneur has cultivated Bari-1 variety of cumin on 11th century land. The cumin trees are already blooming. They have also started bearing fruit. Upazila agricultural officials are quite optimistic about the good yield.

In this context, Jahidul Islam said, I have received training from the Bogra Spice Research Center on cumin cultivation. I cultivated according to the rules and regulations as trained by agricultural scientists.

He said, I sowed cumin seeds on 11 acres of land in November last year under the Spice Improved Varieties and Technology Extension Project with the support of the Jibannagar Agriculture Office. The cumin tree has already flowered. Fruits have also started coming. Agriculture officials are in regular contact with me. I will be able to collect cumin from next month, God willing.

When asked, Jibannagar Upazila Agriculture Officer Alamgir Hossain told The Country Today , cumin cultivation has started for the first time in the upazila with the overall cooperation and guidance of the Jibannagar Agriculture Office. It can be called experimental.

He said, cumin has been cultivated in a total of three places in Jibannagar Upazila, including Santoshpur. Flowers have come. A few fruits have also started to ripen. We are very optimistic about this. The rest is up to Allah.

Agricultural experts say that temperate and dry weather is the most suitable for cumin cultivation. Well-drained fertile, deep and sandy loam soil is best for cumin cultivation. With proper care, it is possible to get a yield of 600 to 800 kg of cumin per hectare.