The foreign ‘chia seed’ crop known as ‘super food’ is being cultivated experimentally in Debiganj of the country’s northern district Panchagarh.
It is known that chia seeds are originally the seeds of the salvia plant that grows in the desert. It is found in many parts of Central America. Although it is usually classified as a grain, it is also called an herb.
Rafiqul Islam, Shiber Hat village in Sundardighi Union of Debiganj Upazila started the experimental cultivation. At first he planted chia seeds on 17 decimal of his own land, with the advice of the Agriculture Office. He said the yield has been very good.
Experts claim that it was included in the main diet of the ancient Aztec nation. Chia seeds look a lot like sesame seeds. The ancient Aztecs considered it more valuable than gold.
Sources said, the seeds are planted in mid-November, and chia seeds can be harvested in mid-February. The age of chia seeds for 100 to 105 days. There is no such disease in this crop; it is enough to spray fungicide once. Chia seed cultivation costs 10–12 thousand taka per bigha, and 120–130 kg of chia seeds are produced per bigha of land. But it is more profitable than any other crop.
Farmers said, the Chia seeds are sold at the local level in various shops and online at Tk 800 to 1200 per kg. it is possible to export these foreign crops, which are dependent on imports, to meet domestic demand.
Debiganj Agriculture Officer Naeem Morshed told, the Chia seeds are nutritious foods. It contains five times more calcium than milk, 7 times more vitamin C than oranges, 3 times more iron than spinach, and twice as much potassium as bananas, 3 times more protein than chicken eggs, and 8 times more omega-3 fatty acids than salmon, It contains antioxidants called caffeic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and soluble and insoluble dietary fiber.
District Training Officer Md Naimul Huda Sarkar explains, the Chia seed is a nutrient-rich crop. The climate of our country is suitable for the cultivation of this crop. This crop is free from disease and insect attacks. He further said, the production costs are very low. If production in the country increases, imports from abroad will decrease.