Cumin grown by Magura researchers

Scientific Officer Aluddin Khan told The Daily Star that they cultivated the spice on four 'research plots' in the first week of November last year and harvested it on February 27 this year. Seeds were collected from India.

"We are trying to popularise cumin cultivation among farmers," said the scientific officer with a hope that it will be widely cultivated in the country by 2009.

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Scientific Assistant Md Akram Hossain said it can be raised as a Rabi crop as chilly and dry weather is suitable and dense fog and heavy rain are obstacles to its cultivation.

According to him, cumin seeds should be sown on loamy soil between last week of October and mid- November. Cumin plant looks like that of coriander and is 30 to 40 cm in height.

Though cumin was first produced in Egypt and Syria, it is now being widely cultivated in Iran, India and Sri Lanka. Bangladeshi farmers are ignorant of cultivation of this essential spice.

Officials said, Bangladesh imports one lakh metric tons of cumin annually. Domestic production is zero.

When contacted, Magura Agriculture Extension Deportment Deputy Director Ochchiul Islam said a good portion of the annual requirement can be produced domestically as many areas of the country are suitable for its cultivation.

He said cumin cultivation attracted many farmers from Magura and neighbouring districts, who visited the crop at the institute.