Cassava is
a root vegetable which is similar to sweet potatoes. It is a tuber crop like
potatoes and yams. The Latin name of cassava is Manihot Esculenta. It is the
underground part of the cassava shrub. People can also eat the leaves of the
cassava plant. Cassava is grown in most agro-ecological zones of Ghana and it is
a major staple in West Africa. Cassava is the raw material for some industrial
products.
The
economy of Lalmai region under Cumilla district can change for Cassava. Comilla
Sadar South Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohiuddin Majumder said, Cassava which
is also known as ‘Wood Potato (Kath Alu)’ is good yield on Lalmai hills. He
also said that he will talk to the senior authorities about how to help the local
farmers in the agricultural sector to produce more Cassava in this hilly region.
The Cassava
plant has been cultivated for many years in the hills of Lalmai region. The
economy of Lalmai Hills area can be changed due to cultivation of cassava. Now to
develop this production the public and non-governmental integrated enterprises
need to work together.
According
to the information from Agriculture Department, 6 to 7 tons of cassava can be
produce from every acre of land. Cassava can be used to prepare glucose,
barley, suji, bread, noodles, crackers, cakes, breads, biscuits, papor, chips
and other varieties food items. In addition, starch made from cassava is also used
in the textile and pharmaceutical industry. Organic fertilizers are made with
leaves and the rest of the leaves of Cassava plant.
Cosmetic Starch is required 0.3 million tons per year in the garment industry, pharmaceutical industry and food processing industry in Bangladesh. But presently in the country the total production of Cassava is only 5 to 6 thousand tons a year. The rest are imported from different countries including India, Thailand and Vietnam and other countries.
This is
the season of Cassava. So, farmers are busy on harvesting in different areas
including Kotbari, Salmanpur, Jammura, Hajir Khamar and Lalmai area. Cassava is
coming out of red soil in the hands of the farmer. After being cleaned, these Cassavas
lift up on the truck. The roots of the plants are transformed into Cassava.
A farmer
from Lalmai said that he used to cultivate other vegetables before. Due to varieties
diseases, the crop was less. Now he is cultivating cassava because the disease
is less. Less fertilizer and irrigation takes less capitalization.
One of the
farmers of the village Jammura of Sadar upazila of Lalmai Hill said that he has
been cultivating Cassava for last 13 years. He said that his family had
cultivated this crop for a few decades till now. He has cultivated cassava in
50 acres of land. It costs BD taka 25 thousand per acre. If you get good yield,
then Cassava on every acre can sell BD Taka 30 thousand.
In
our country, the indigenous people of Garo Hills, Haluaghat, Madhupur in the
greater Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sylhet, Lalmai Hills in Cumilla and Chittagong
Hill Tracts cultivate small quantities of Cassava locally. Some Private Company
of the country collects these cassavas as raw materials for different industrial
use.
Lalmai
hills are very ideal for harvesting Cassava. At present there are only few buyers
of Cassava in the country. Some private companies collect this crop. They have
to satisfy with the price they pay. Farmers will get good profits after
expansion of marketing of agriculture department.
The
economy of the mountain area in Lalmai zone can change due to Cassava
cultivation. If the Agriculture department of the government takes some
initiatives and helps the local farmers then it will save lots of money for the
country.
Related:
Little about the Cumilla District
History and Sculpture of Lalmai Region Comilla
Air Quality Index | Cumilla City is Least Polluted
Khadi or Khaddar Cloth | Tradition of Comilla
History and Sculpture of Lalmai Region Comilla
Air Quality Index | Cumilla City is Least Polluted
Khadi or Khaddar Cloth | Tradition of Comilla
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