Last year Tk 75,000 profit from 25 decimals of ginger; this year rot took 20 of his 30 decimals

Ginger is the main cash crop in Taraganj, Rangpur; in 2021 ginger was grown on 927 acres in the upazila. According to a Prothom Alo report, that year, after continuous rain, rot disease appeared in most fields. The plants turned yellow, and digging at their base showed that the seed ginger had rotted. Even the pesticides commonly sold in the market did not stop the disease.

A farmer in Anantapur village has grown ginger for a long time. The previous year he made Tk 75,000 profit from ginger on 25 decimals. This time he planted 30 decimals, but in his words, 'Of my 30 decimals of ginger, 20 decimals have been ruined by rot. This time I'll lose even what I put in.' Neighbouring farmers were also pulling up the rotten plants to try to save the rest; spraying two or three times had not helped.

According to the upazila parishad vice-chairman, ginger cultivation in the area is gradually declining because of rot. The upazila agriculture officer said seed and soil must be treated from the start, seed must be taken from disease-free fields, dhaincha should be planted in the field to give light shade, and as soon as the disease appears, affected plants must be pulled up and taken well away, and an approved fungicide applied.