Lalmonirhat farmers try out cultivation of 7-colour chilli in one plant
Cultivation of BARI Ornamental Chilli-1 variety, which bears the spice in seven colours in the same plant, is gaining grounds in Lalmonirhat.
Following an exhibition of this variety of chili at the Spice Research Sub-Centre (SRSC) in Banvasa area of Lalmonirhat municipality, interested amateur farmers in the district are collecting seeds and saplings of this variety from the SRSC free of cost.
Commercial cultivation of this chilli variety, however, has not started yet. This ornamental chili variety can be planted in a tub and cultivated on rooftops.
"After five years of research, we have been providing the seeds and saplings of this variety free of cost to interested amateur farmers since last year," Dr Mostaque Ahmed, senior scientific officer of SRSC, told The Daily Star.
"The cultivation of the variety begins in the first week of October, when the seeds are sown in seedbeds, and after 40 days the germinated saplings have to be planted in tubs. The plants bear chilli around 60-65 days after planting saplings in tubs. Each plant bears 70-80 pieces of chillli for about seven to eight times in a year," he said.
"With proper care, one will get seven colours of chilli from one plant. However, if not properly cared for, the plants will bear chilli with only 3 to 4 colours," Dr Mostaque also said.
"This ornamental variety of chilli looks very nice on the plants. The taste and smell of this chilli is similar to the commonly cultivated variety," he added.
Harunur Rashid, a college teacher and an amateur farmer from Masterpara area of Lalmonirhat town, told The Daily Star that he has collected six saplings from the SRSC and planted them in tubs, and is now getting the yield.
Shamim Ashraf, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat, told The Daily Star that the seeds and saplings of this chilli are being collected from the SRSC and distributed to interested amateur farmers free of cost.
However, special care has to be taken to get the yield, he said, adding that "this variety of chilli can play a special role when there is a supply crunch in the market."
"At the moment, there is no plan to cultivate this commercially. We are restricting the cultivation of this ornamental chilli in tubs and only encouraging amateur farmers," Dr Mostaque said.
"However, there is a huge demand for this variety in big hotels and restaurants of the country and abroad," he added.
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