Accra:The government has launched an initiative to achieve self-sufficiency in ginger production within the next three years to conserve foreign exchange, as the country currently imports around 35-40 percent of its annual ginger demand.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rashel Ahmed, project director of the Extension of Improved Variety and Technology of Spices Project under the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), announced the government's extensive program to boost ginger production to meet this goal.
In the 2025-26 fiscal year, the country produced 2.55 lakh tonnes of ginger against a demand of 3.75 lakh tonnes, resulting in a shortfall of 1.20 lakh tonnes. During this period, 1.45 lakh tonnes of ginger were imported. In the previous fiscal year, the country imported over 1.41 lakh tonnes of ginger from several countries, including China and India, at a cost of Tk 1,256.81 crore.
India was the largest supplier, with 61,428 tonnes imported at a cost of Tk 383.71 crore, while 43,038 tonnes came from China at the highest cost of Tk 559.65 crore. Myanmar, Indonesia, and Thailand also contributed to the imports.
Rashel Ahmed explained that while the country has suitable weather and soil for ginger cultivation, challenges such as lack of quality varieties, diseases, and conventional farming practices hinder optimal production. To address these issues, the government has undertaken programs to expand improved ginger varieties, distribute quality seeds, promote cultivation, and improve irrigation, among other strategies.
Dr. M Masud Alam, principal scientific officer at the Bangladesh Spices Research Centre, noted that sack-based ginger cultivation is beneficial for farmers, allowing them to grow the spice in small areas. This method can yield 1 to 1.5 kg of ginger per sack, starting with just 50 grams of ginger.
The DAE is providing technical support and distributing high-yielding ginger seeds to enhance the program's success. Ginger production currently averages around 17 tonnes per hectare, with potential increases through high-yielding varieties.
Sack-based cultivation is gaining traction, accounting for about 30 percent of the country's ginger production. Officials see potential in this method for reducing dependence on imports and meeting local demand. Farmers in various districts are adopting this technique, contributing to the optimistic outlook for commercial ginger cultivation.