Jibonkrishna Roy is growing stevia on a trial basis in Kaliganj, Lalmonirhat, as an answer to the demand for sugar. Demand for sugar is growing day by day, so farmers have begun cultivating alternatives. Many people come to his house to see the plants.

Jibonkrishna Roy, 38, is the son of Bhupendranath Roy of Sonarhat in Cholbola union, Kaliganj upazila. He works as a sub-assistant engineer in the office of the Aditmari upazila engineer, and has created a stevia garden at his home alongside his government job.

Stevia is being grown in many countries as a substitute for sugar. One kilogram of stevia powder does the work of 30-35kg of sugar. Sugar makes things worse for diabetes patients, but stevia causes no such problem. Starting with just 17 seedlings, Jibonkrishna now has more than a hundred plants in his garden eight months into the project, and plans to grow it commercially.

Jibonkrishna said: "I heard a discussion about stevia at a training session. Then I planned to plant stevia at home. After watching YouTube, I ordered online and collected 17 seedlings from Dahagram union in Patgram and planted them. In just eight months the garden has 200 plants."

He said: "Stevia powder produced in the garden is sent to the Rangpur Diabetic Association for patients. Patients drank tea made with it and tested their diabetes successfully. I have now taken steps to grow stevia on one acre."

Many local people come to see the stevia and collect seedlings from the garden. Many seedlings died because of heavy rain over the past two days. Many visitors chew stevia leaves to taste the sweetness, and many take one or two plants home to plant.

Local resident Shah Ali said: "I heard stevia leaves are sweeter than sugar, so I came to see Jibonkrishna dada's garden. It really is a substitute for sugar. I tasted it and collected a seedling to plant at home."

Dr Abdul Kadir Gani, diabetes specialist at the Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex, said: "Although stevia leaves taste sweet, they are fit for consumption by diabetes patients."

Dr Saikhul Arefin, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat, said: "Stevia is a sugar-substitute crop. I have learned that one person in Lalmonirhat has grown it. We will arrange training for the district's farmers in stevia cultivation. If its cultivation grows, it will be quite helpful in meeting the sugar shortfall."

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