Gaibandha farmers opt for sesame cultivation

Sesame (teel) farming on fallow lands is gaining popularity in different areas of the district and farmers are earning a better profit than other crops. This season saw bumper production of sesame due to favourable weather.

The tasty oil seed is used for making different kinds of sweetmeats, and also for manufacturing cosmetic items, including hair oil.

Comfit, commonly known as “teeler khaja,” is prepared with the seed and either sugar or molasses, and is a very popular sweetmeat.

Farmers are cultivating sesame because the production cost is low. The seed is generally cultivated on fallow lands or together with other robi crops. Sesame seeds are sowed in the Bengali month of Falgun and harvested in the month of Jaistha.

This year, sesame seed is being sold at Tk 3,000 to Tk 3,500 per maund.

According to the district office of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), 280 hectares of land were brought under sesame cultivation in Shaghata, Gobindagnaj, Sadullapur and Palashbari upazilas this year.

“I cultivated sesame on one bigha of fallow land with other crops and got three maunds of sesame this season. I earned extra profit," said Amanullah, a sesame grower of Taluk Kanupur village under Gobindaganj upazila.

Another sesame cultivator Azher Ali of Darbastha village, said “I cultivated sesame on one and a half bighas of fallow land and got bumper production.”

"The agriculture department is always beside the farmers and the field officers are encouraging them to cultivate highly profitable oil seeds like sesame. The farmers are getting all possible help and suggestion for cultivation of oil seeds," said Shahara Banu, upazila agriculture officer in Gobindaganj.