Mr. Mizanur Rahman Badal, Manikganj:
The spice crop coriander has been used in Bengali cuisine since ancient times. The leaves and coriander powder enhance the flavor of cooked curries. Coriander is also used as a raw material for medicines.
Clay-loam soil is especially suitable for coriander cultivation. It yields the highest yield without any special care. By spending only 3/4 thousand taka per bigha, a crop of 25/30 thousand taka can be sold. Due to the high profit with little capital, the scope of coriander cultivation is increasing every year in Singair, Manikganj. Different varieties of coriander are cultivated in this upazila. Bari Dhania-1, LB-60 and 65 and high-yielding varieties of Sugandha can be cultivated almost all year round.
Coriander is rich in nutrients and contains minerals, fiber, energy, protein, calcium, iron, C-1, vitamin B-2, vitamin C, and sugar.
On-site visits showed that coriander was cultivated in a vast area including Hatni Chowk in Jamirtta Union, Chalitapara, Rifaitpur, Waiznagar in Chandahar Union, Kalindi, Muslimabad in Sayesta Union, Ghaisartek, Futil, Baratia, Daserhati, Atrail Beel in Charigram Union.
On Saturday (February 22) morning, farmers Borhan Mia and Yunus Ali of Hatni village said, "Earlier, we used to cultivate mustard. It costs more and profits less. So, we have been cultivating coriander for the last two years. Excluding production costs, we get a profit of 20-25 thousand taka per bigha. Which is not available by cultivating other crops." Farmer Montaj Mia of neighboring Waiznagar village said, "I cultivated coriander on 1 bigha of land and sold the leaves for 35 thousand taka. Excluding costs, we made a profit of about 30 thousand taka."
In this regard, Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Md. Habibul Bashar Chowdhury said that this year, coriander has been cultivated in 400 hectares or 3,000 bighas of land in this upazila. The yield of leaves per bigha is 12-15 maunds and ripe coriander is 5 to 7 maunds. He also said that farmers get more profit from this crop with little care.
