Shimul Mia of Sherpur worked for a private company. After watching YouTube, he grew chia seed for the first time and has caused quite a stir. The young agricultural entrepreneur spent only about Tk 5,000 and is dreaming of a lakh taka. The grain is opening new prospects in farming, local farmers are becoming interested after seeing his crop, and the local agriculture department is giving every kind of support.

Shimul Mia is the son of the late Mozaffar Ali of Suryadi Uttarpara in Kamaria union, Sherpur Sadar. In his spare time from his job he watched all kinds of farming videos on YouTube. His interest in agriculture grew, and gradually he turned to new crops. He then left his job and took 50 decimals of land on sharecrop lease, collected chia seed and sowed it, the first time in the district.

Shimul told Jagonews that he started growing chia seed, a high-value foreign crop, in December last year. Sowing, fertiliser, irrigation and everything else on the leased land cost only Tk 5,000-6,000. The crop matured within three months of planting and he has already harvested about 200 kg. He dreams of selling it for Tk 1 lakh at Tk 500 to 1,000 a kg. He says farmers who grow mustard or potatoes between the Boro and Aman rice seasons could grow chia seed in that period instead, and the method is like that of an ordinary crop. Every day many people seek his advice and say they want to grow chia.

According to the district agriculture department, chia costs less to grow than any other crop and suffers less disease. With high market prices, interest is growing locally. One bigha needs 200-300 grams of seed, and the crop can be harvested 90-100 days after sowing. Chia seed sells at Tk 500 to 1,000 a kg in super shops and online. It looks much like tokma seed and sesame. It contains calcium, vitamin C, iron, potassium, protein, omega-3 and other nutrients that boost immunity, and it helps reduce excess weight and the risk of heart disease and keeps blood sugar normal. The superfood also has various medicinal properties.

Local farmer Sekandar Ali said: "Since our fathers' and grandfathers' time we have mostly grown rice. There is not much profit in it, but what can we do, that is how we have to farm. Now I have seen this new crop that has come to the area. It has yielded a lot, and I hear the price is high. We are farmers, we hope for a little profit. If I see it pays more, we will grow it too."

Another farmer, Abdul Jalil, said: "I did not know this crop existed in our country. Now we see it yields more than other crops, I hear the price is good, and it comes home in a short time. This is what we should grow."

Shahjahan Ali, a farmer in neighbouring Char Sherpur union, said: "We used to grow wheat, maize and potatoes, but there is little profit in them. Chia seed pays more. I am not young, and as far as I have seen there is no chia farming anywhere in Mymensingh division. Next time I hope to grow it on 1-2 acres. I have also spoken to the agriculture department."

Enamul Talukder, another farmer in Char Sherpur, said: "Shimul is my relative. When he rented this land I asked what he would plant and he mentioned this crop. We told him not to plant any rubbish. But he did not listen and planted it, and we grew rice. Now I see Shimul did the right thing. He has already harvested his crop and is selling it at a good price. When he planted it he did not even work hard; he just planted and left it. Anyway, I want to grow it too. Next season I will grow it on 50 decimals."

Nutritionist Taslima Akter Urmi told Jagonews: "Chia seed is basically an American and Mexican food that people have eaten since ancient times. It is an ideal food full of nutrients and very good for health. The seed contains omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, protein and various essential nutrients. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, one ounce (about 2 tablespoons) of chia seed has 10 grams of fibre, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams of healthy fat, and 18 per cent of daily calcium needs, 30 per cent of magnesium and 27 per cent of phosphorus."

"Many people drink water with soaked chia seed to lose weight, and some sprinkle it on oats. Chia seed should never be eaten raw. There is no fixed time to eat it, but eating it at certain times brings great benefits," she said.

Krishibid Shakhawat Hossain, deputy director of the Sherpur district agriculture department, told Jagonews: "Chia is the seed of a mint-family plant called Salvia hispanica. It grows mainly in the desert regions of Central America and Mexico. An agricultural entrepreneur in Sherpur has grown it and the yield is good. It is a short-duration crop and needs much less water."

"Chia seed can be grown in areas short of irrigation, and its market price is quite good. Many farmers are now being encouraged to grow it, and we in the agriculture department are encouraging them too. Any entrepreneur interested in the crop will be given full advice and support," he said.

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