Cumin is a cash crop that is one of the main ingredients in cooking. The entire demand of cumin in the country is imported from abroad. Zahurul Islam Badal, an agricultural entrepreneur of Raninagar Upazila of Naogaon, has impressed everyone by cultivating that import-dependent crop on the country’s soil. Other farmers are also inspired by his success. Apart from Naogaon, if cumin is cultivated all over the country, import dependence of this cash crop will be reduced. Those concerned think that the price of this necessary spice will come easily within reach.
According to port and customs data, 61 percent of the country’s demand for cumin has to be imported from neighboring India. 32 percent cumin is imported from Türkiye. Also cumin comes from Egypt, Pakistan and Cambodia. In the financial year 2023-24, 350 tonnes of cumin has been imported into the country. The price of which is 12 crore 8 lakh taka. 919 tonnes of cumin was imported in the financial year 2022-23. The price of which is 16 crore 40 lakh taka.
The country’s economy is in turmoil when the country’s economy is in turmoil to supply the domestic market with import-dependent crops due to dollar shortage. Just at that moment, the cumin cultivation of farmers like farmer Jahurul got a good response. Recently, visiting Shiala village of Raninagar upazila, hundreds of farmers and visitors are coming from far and wide to see the success of Zahurul. Some of the visitors smell the fresh cumin. Some are asking for cumin seeds.
Zahurul stopped to eat cumin and spoke with Saiful Islam, a young agricultural entrepreneur from Raninagar Upazila Sadar. He said, after completing his diploma in 2017, after unsuccessfully chasing government jobs, he returned to the village and started working in agriculture. I am constantly visiting the fields of different districts and observing the crop production methods of successful farmers. Part of this was Jahurul’s knowledge of cumin cultivation techniques. I have been observing his cumin cultivation since the beginning. I will also grow cumin commercially by collecting seeds from here. It can be cultivated at very low cost and is a very profitable cash crop.
Abdul Bacher, Shafiqul Islam and Rita Begum, residents of Shiala village, said that after sowing cumin seeds on Jahurul’s land, we all laughed at him. None of us believed that cumin would grow in the soil here. Now cumin is visible in his field. Since the news of cumin cultivation has spread around, hundreds of people have been coming to see this cumin. We are inspired by Zahurul. If we get the cooperation of the agriculture department, we want to spread cumin plantation in the whole village.
Agricultural entrepreneur Zahurul Islam Badal told that I get a kind of joy by producing new crops every day. Earlier, I was successful in cultivating different types of vegetables. However, due to the high price of cumin in the market, there was an interest in cumin cultivation. Later, after watching cumin cultivation methods on YouTube, I collected cumin seeds imported from India online. Then I sowed experimental cumin seeds on 8 percent of the land.
He said that since the beginning of cumin cultivation till now two thousand tk. have been spent in two and a half months. Presently, cumin seeds are visible after flowering on the plant. Within a few days I can take these cumin at home. I am hopeful that 12-15 kg of cumin will be produced here. Where there will be a profit of at least 13 thousand tk excluding all expenses. So without doubt it can be said that cumin is more profitable than any other crop.
Naogaon District Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Abul Kalam Azad told that two farmers have cultivated cumin in the district this year. Among these, Zahurul’s success has spread widely and has received quite a response. We also see this as positive. Just like common coriander, cumin can be cultivated at low cost. It does not require much technical knowledge or skill in cultivation.
He said that the amount of cumin seeds produced in the district will be collected and expanded next year. In this case, the agriculture department will provide full support to the interested farmers. If this cash crop can be cultivated commercially in the country, import dependence will be reduced. The price will also come within reach.
