A farmer named Mehedi Hasan Shyamal Khalifa has had great success growing hybrid turmeric on fallow land with little capital in Gournadi, Barishal. Seeing his success, other farmers in the area have become interested in growing turmeric too.

Shyamal Khalifa, a young man from Harisena village in Gournadi municipality, said he brought hybrid turmeric from Narsingdi and planted it on 30 decimals of fallow land. The land has yielded about 100 maunds. From planting to harvest he spent Tk 40,000, and raw turmeric is selling at Tk 50 a kg. After costs, he hopes to make a profit of Tk 1.5 lakh.

"If the agriculture office officials stand by me, I want to grow turmeric on a large scale and spread turmeric farming among all farmers. For this I want the help of the local agriculture officer," Shyamal Khalifa said.

Several farmers in the area said Shyamal Khalifa had shown them that turmeric grown on fallow land with little money can bring good profits, and they want to grow it like him.

Gournadi Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Sekender Sheikh said: "Our sub-assistant agriculture officers have been advising and supporting farmers in the field, which is why farmers are becoming interested in new crops."

He said Shyamal Khalifa would be given every support, adding: "If anyone else wants to grow turmeric, they will also be helped."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.