Turmeric, a spice crop, has been planted widely in Keshabpur upazila of Jashore this year. With the market price high, growers have become more interested in planting it, and they are weaving golden dreams around the crop.
The crop has been planted widely on land in the flood-free higher areas of the upazila: Bagdaha, Mirzapur, Sriphala, Pratappur and Baisa in Majidpur union; Kamalapur, Gorbhanga, Belkati and Sagardattakati in Panjia union; Mangalkot, Basuntia and Kedarpur in Mangalkot union; Mominpur, Kabilpur and Hasanpur in Hasanpur union; Chadra, Mirzanagar, Barandali and Gopalpur in Trimohini union; and Jahanpur, Bhalukghar and Begampur in Satbaria union.
According to the upazila agriculture office, the cost of planting turmeric is very limited. Depending on the seed, the cost is only 300 to 400 taka per katha. Seven to eight kilograms of seed turmeric costs 500 taka. Production is five to seven maunds per katha. Raw turmeric sells at 1,500 to 1,600 taka a maund depending on grade. At current market rates the minimum profit is 2,400 to 4,000 taka per katha. The turmeric growing season runs nine months. Turmeric is said to help prevent cancer and to aid digestion. It is also said to control diabetes, smooth the skin, remove bad cholesterol and improve fatty liver, and to play an effective part in beauty care.
Ibrahim Hossain, a farmer of Gorbhanga village, said: “There is more profit to be had in growing turmeric. Turmeric cures various ailments. The farmers’ turmeric gardens have filled the fields with green plants.”
Local farmers said there is much profit in turmeric if it can be kept free of pests, which is why interest in growing it has increased in this upazila. Various diseases attack turmeric at this time, however. Medicine must be applied regularly, according to plan, against turmeric rot and attacks by shoot borers in particular. Drainage channels must be cut so that water does not stand. Using granular and liquid treatments against disease will produce a good yield.
Keshabpur upazila agriculture officer Abdullah Al Mamun said: “Last year turmeric was grown on only 670 bighas of land in Keshabpur upazila. This year the target was 1,120 bighas, which is much higher than last year. Farmers in the upazila are far more interested in growing spice crops than they were before. Various advice is being given to farmers on this.”