File photo

RANGPUR, April 12, 2026 (BSS) – The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has set a target of producing 55,753 tonnes of ginger on 3,895 hectares of land in the Rangpur agricultural region during the current Kharif-1 season.

DAE officials at its Rangpur regional office today said farmers are sowing ginger seeds and seedlings in full swing on their croplands and are also expanding cultivation using sacks across all five districts of the region.

Farmers have already sown ginger seeds and seedlings on 1,658 hectares of land, achieving 42.57 percent of the fixed target in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts, as the process continues in full swing.

“Ginger cultivation is being expanded on croplands, homesteads and fallow lands following repeated bumper production and rewarding prices,” said Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Krishibid Md Shirajul Islam.

The government is providing quality seeds to small and marginal farmers to increase production of spice crops through proper crop diversification and the use of modern technology, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency in locally produced spices.

“The DAE and other agriculture-related departments, agencies and institutions are providing farmers with necessary training, while banks are offering easy-to-access agricultural loans to popularise the cultivation of ginger and other spice crops,” Islam added.

Talking to BSS, farmers Meher Ali, Lokman Ahmed, Abu Hossain and Sahanur Rahman from different villages in Rangpur said they are sowing ginger seeds and seedlings on their croplands, homesteads and fallow lands this season.

Educated farmer Shahinul Islam Bakul of Moyenpur village in Mithapukur upazila said he is cultivating ginger in 18,000 sacks on 80 decimals of land in his Haribhanga mango orchard this year.

After producing 115 maunds (one maund equals 40 kg) of ginger from 16,000 sacks and making a significant profit last year, Bakul has increased cultivation to 18,000 sacks this season as a companion crop in his orchard.

“If modern storage facilities are established and all fallow lands and homesteads are brought under ginger cultivation, it will be possible to achieve self-sufficiency in domestic ginger production,” Bakul said.

Retail vegetable trader Hafizur Rahman at Rangpur City Bazar said ginger is being sold at retail prices between Tk 120 and Tk 160 per kg after being purchased from wholesalers at Tk 90 to Tk 120 per kg.

Md Mamunur Rashid, a PhD fellow in the Department of Agricultural Extension at Dinajpur’s Hajee Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology, lauded the government for taking pragmatic steps to increase spice crop production.

By expanding cultivation of high-yielding ginger varieties in sacks, fallow lands and char areas, production can be further increased to meet domestic demand and reduce the significant amount of foreign exchange spent on imports each year, he said.

“However, adequate storage facilities must be established so that farmers can preserve their produce and secure fair prices by ensuring a steady supply throughout the year,” Rashid added.