Accra:The government is undertaking a significant initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in ginger production within the next three years. This move is primarily aimed at reducing the country's reliance on imports, which currently account for about 35-40% of its annual ginger demand.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rashel Ahmed, the project director of the Extension of Improved Variety and Technology of Spices Project under the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), stated that an extensive program has been launched to boost ginger production. The goal is to meet domestic demand by the end of the stipulated timeframe.
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, the country produced 2.55 lakh tonnes of ginger against a demand of 3.75 lakh tonnes, creating a shortfall of 1.20 lakh tonnes. During this period, ginger imports reached 1.45 lakh tonnes. In the previous fiscal year, over 1.41 lakh tonnes of ginger were imported from countries such as China, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand, costing Tk 1,256.81 crore. The imports from India and China were the most significant, with 61,428 tonnes from India costing Tk 383.71 crore and 43,038 tonnes from China costing Tk 559.65 crore.
Rashel Ahmed highlighted that while the country has favorable conditions for ginger cultivation, challenges such as lack of quality varieties, long crop cycles, diseases, and conventional farming practices hinder optimal production. To address these issues, the government has implemented various programs, including the development of improved ginger varieties, distribution of quality seeds, promotion of modern cultivation techniques, and training for farmers.
Dr. M Masud Alam, principal scientific officer at the Bangladesh Spices Research Centre under the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), discussed the benefits of sack-based ginger cultivation. This method allows farmers to grow ginger in small areas, with the potential to produce 1 to 1.5 kg of ginger per sack from just 50 grams of seed.
The introduction of high-yielding ginger varieties like BARI-2 and BARI-3, along with support from the DAE, could increase production to meet national demand. Currently, sack-based cultivation accounts for about 30% of the country's total ginger production and is becoming increasingly popular among local farmers.
Agriculture officials are optimistic that expanding the use of sack-based cultivation will enhance commercial ginger production and reduce dependency on imports.