BARI-1 cumin cultivation has brought a revolutionary success among the farmers in the vast Barind region this season.
Due to repeated bumper production and fair market price, BARI-1 cumin cultivation is expanding across the Rajshahi division.
Authority of the Spice Research Centre in Shibganj upazila of Bogura has already developed some 21 liberated varieties of 45 of crops including cumin in the recent times. As a result, the farmers are getting quality seed easily.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) is providing liberated seed among the farmers to get fresh cumin.
Besides, soil and the weather of Bogura and Rajshahi agri-zone are suitable for the spice cultivation round the year.
The farmers generally sow the seed of cumin in November and harvest them from the first week of April. The growers of the region show more interest to grow the crop on a vast tract of land as its cultivation is proved lucrative and easy.
Sub-assistant agriculture officer of Bogura DAE Azizur Rahman said to make the farming a grand success, a monitoring cell by the DAE is working in the grassroots level across the region.
Farmers of Bogura, Sirajganj, Pabna and Joypurhat under Bogura agri-zone have brought some 776 hectares of land under BARI-1 cumin cultivation this season aiming to produce over 981 tonnes of yield.
Besides, cultivators of all two districts Rajshah and Natore under Rajshahi agri-zone have brought some 358 hectares of land under BARI-1 cumin cultivation this current season aiming to produce over 352 tonnes of yield.
"I have cultivated BARI-1 cumin on five decimals of land spending Tk 12,000 aiming to be self-reliant," said farmer Hossain Uddin under Natore district. "If the price remains favourabe till next two months, I would make Tk 60 thousand as profit", he added.
Principal scientific officer of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Centre in Shibganj, Bogura Dr Matiar Rahman said farmers are getting support from the research centre to grow the high-yield spice.
