Bagatipara (Natore) Correspondent

Three friends initially tried to grow ginger in sacks by watching YouTube and reading various reports on Google.

In addition to their own work, the indomitable courage and spirit to create new forms as their own initiative is the main source of their success.

Three friends, Hafizur Rahman, Adnan and Hasan Ali, first ventured into ginger cultivation in bagatipara of Natore.

This year, these three young agricultural entrepreneurs cultivated 13 hundred sacks of ginger for the first time in the abandoned area of Nandikuja village of Dayarampur union of the upazila. Due to good yield, they are expecting more profit due to good market price and demand.

According to Upazila Agriculture Office sources, ginger has never been cultivated in the upazila before. These three friends were the first to start ginger cultivation. And through them, the authorities thought that a new possibility of ginger cultivation in sacks would be created.

Ginger cultivation in sacks is very convenient as opposed to cultivation in fields. If ginger is grown in soil, soil moisture cannot be controlled. When the amount of water in the soil increases during the rainy season, the ginger rots. On the other hand, there is no such risk in bag farming. The amount of soil moisture can be controlled by draining excess water and watering as needed.

Besides, the soil is soft due to less weed infestation in sacks. As a result, the yield is relatively higher in sack farming than in field farming.

Hafizur Rahman, who worked in a private company after his studies, told the story of becoming an agricultural entrepreneur besides his job. He said that friend Adnan was encouraged by watching videos of ginger cultivation using sack method online. When Hafizur and Hasan Ali were informed about the matter, they were also interested. Later they contacted various ginger farmers of Rangpur region. Collected ginger seeds from Rangpur by communicating online. For the first time, ginger, a spice and medicinal crop, was cultivated in 13 hundred sacks in Bagatipara.

Mentioning the cost of 45 takes per sack including seeds, this young entrepreneur expressed hope of profit of more than 2 lakh takes from 1300 sacks if the market is good.

Golam Rasul of that area said that people are coming from different areas to see the ginger cultivation of three friends. And taking advice from them about ginger cultivation. He himself will cultivate ginger this time using sack method.

Rakibur Rahman, another farmer of that area, said that the method of ginger cultivation in sacks has come to the attention of people because it is adjacent to the main road. The crop can be cultivated in abandoned areas and is profitable and has received a great response in the area.

Helal Uddin, ward member of Nandikuja village of Dayarampur union, said that ginger cultivation in this method is the first in the area. He had not seen any kind of ginger cultivation in the area before. People from different parts of the district come to see this ginger cultivation. He thinks that seeing their success will lead to more ginger cultivation in the area.
Bagatipara upazila agricultural officer. Bhavsindhu Roy said, for the first time, ginger cultivation has been done in Bagatipara.

We have been providing all kinds of technical assistance on behalf of the Agriculture Office since the beginning. By engaging young entrepreneurs in ginger farming, they will benefit themselves as well as other youth will be interested in ginger farming and agriculture. Ginger can be grown under sack method even if no other crops are grown in shaded, abandoned land.

Already 30 farmers of the upazila who are interested in ginger cultivation have been trained. In the future, ginger cultivation will increase in the upazila.