The cultivation of garlic is going on in full swing across the Nilphamari district.
Owing to the inexpensive cultivation method and high per bigha production rate, a good number of farmers are getting engaged in cultivating the spice on commercial basis.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said this year’s target of garlic production in the district has been fixed at 5161 tonnes in 894 hectares of land.
Estimated production on per hectares of land is 6.5 tonnes, the sources added.
Peasants in the region, who once used to cultivate the spice as a tradition, are now expecting to produce up to 30 mounds of garlic in a bigha (30 decimal) of land.
Sources said existing market price of garlic is around Tk 3,000.
Abu Alam, a farmer of Itakhola union under Nilphamari Sadar Upazila, said he cultivated garlic in two bighas of land and is expecting to produce 60 maunds of the product.
The estimated total cost would be around Tk 20,000, including buying seeds, fertilisers and weeding, he added.
Meanwhile, some farmers are cultivating coriander along with garlic following mixed or intercropping method.