NATORE, May 10: This season, a total of 2.15 lakh metric tons (mt) of garlic worth about Tk 2,000 crore has been produced in the district.
This production is about 30 per cent of the country's total garlic production.
According to sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE)-Natore, a total of 16,745 hectors (ha) of land were brought under garlic cultivation in 2023, with 1,48, 257 mt production.
In the following year 2024, the garlic was cultivated on 18,000 ha of land, with 1, 58,201 mt production.
This season, 22,815 ha of land were brought against the target of 18, 200 ha.
The cultivation method is good; tilling is not required.
Farmers in Baraigram and Gurudaspur upazilas introduced the system at first. Being profitable, its cultivation method quickly spreads to other upazilas and to other parts of the country. The method was introduced in 1994-95.
Its production cost is low, requires less fertiliser. But the yielding is higher. The system gained wide popularity. Locals said, Baraigram and Gurudaspur upazilas are best producing areas of garlic.
This season, the garlic was cultivated on 8,993 ha of land in Baraigram Upazila, 7,375 ha in Gurudaspur , 2,880 ha in Sadar , 1,100 ha in Lalpur, 1,076 ha in Bagatipara, 1,005 ha in Singra and 426 ha in Naldanga upazilas.
Tofazzal Hossain, a garlic grower of Tiroil Village at Baraigram said, he cultivated garlic on one bigha of land. His production has been good, with 30 maund per bigha. He has also got good price.
Farmer Hasanul in the same upazila said, he has got 31 maunds of garlic per bigha and good sale price.
Farmer Khalilur Rahaman in Gurudaspur Upazila said, he has got 28 maund production per bigha.
Anisur Rahaman in the same upazila, said, he cultivated garlic on one bigha of land and got 29 maunds of production. Market price is good at present, and it can give higher profit if it is stored for next sale, he added.
Shamima Sultana, Upazila Agriculture Officer, said, most farmers cultivated garlic without tilling. Local farmers introduced the method at their own thought which is profitable and admirable step, she added.
She further said, farmers also co-cropped watermelon and Bangi with garlic.
Md Habibul Islam Khan, Deputy Director the DAE)-Natore, said, the production of garlic has been recordable higher, compared to the previous year's because of farmers efforts and time to time suggestions and co-operation from the DAE officials. Farmers will be benefited highly from it, he added.
