Cassava farmers in Madhupur of Tangail are enjoying bumper harvests of the crop, which has changed the fortunes of many in the fertile, hilly region.
Locals have been cultivating the nutty-flavoured root vegetable for centuries. Cassava is also known as ‘Shimul alu in the area.
At one time, the villagers used to eat a lot of this alu to satisfy their hunger. The locals used to eat it to their full stomach because it was delicious. At that time, it was cultivated in large quantities in the fields, in the waste land around the houses, in the pineapple garden. Gradually, due to the commercial cultivation of pineapple, banana and other crops, the cultivation of Cassava declined a lot. Now, as this crop is in great demand abroad, farmers are more interested in cultivating it.
According to the Agriculture Office, cassava has been cultivated on about 53 hectares of land this year, with a production target of 20 tonnes.
Farmers say yields have been good as soil and weather conditions are suitable in the region.
Cassava has many nutritional benefits, which are much more nutritious than wheat flour. Apart from bread, many types of delicious foods can be made from this flour. Cassava is also at the top in terms of vitamins. Cassava contains more than 10 per cent protein in its nutritional value. Amino acids and carbohydrates are 10 and 30 per cent respectively. There are also fructose and glucose. Every 100 grams of edible cassava potato contains 37 grams of sugar, 1.2 grams of protein, 0.3 grams of fat, 35 milligrams of calcium, 0.7 grams of iron, 0.09 milligrams of vitamin A, 36 milligrams of vitamin C and 146 calories of food energy.
Nashen Hagidak, a cassava farmer from Beribaid village, said that he has planted cassava on 3 bighas of land in Nayapara next to his house. He had his own cassava seeds of the Nagra variety. His family started cultivating it in 1982. He cultivates it more or less every year. In other years, he has sold it for 1200 taka per maund from the field. This year, he spent about 40-50 thousand taka on three bighas of land. He expects to get a yield of 200 maunds.
Madhupur Upazila Agriculture Officer Rakib Al Rana said that the soil and climate of the average region are suitable for agricultural crops, there is no fear of damage from flood water. Water does not rise easily. Due to the fertility of the soil, any type of agricultural crop can be easily cultivated. Like other crops including pineapple and banana, cassava is also cultivated. The yield is good. The price is also good. They provide necessary advice and assistance to the farmers from the Agriculture Department.
