Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 28th July 2025, 3:06 PM
Ginger cultivation through the bag method—also known as sack or geo-bag farming—is rapidly gaining popularity in Rajshahi, offering farmers a cost-effective and profitable use of shaded or fallow land, particularly under mango orchards.
Sack farming involves growing ginger in sacks filled with soil and organic manure such as cow dung or mustard oil cake. These sacks are placed in shaded or unused spaces—under trees, in orchards, or around homes—thus avoiding land wastage and minimising risks of floods and pest attacks.
Ziaul Haque (45), from Hujripara village in Paba Upazila, has become a local pioneer in sack farming. He planted ginger in 20,000 sacks this season across unused orchard and homestead areas.
“The conditions have been perfect this year with no diseases,”
— Ziaul Haque
He anticipates harvesting 18,000 kg of ginger, with projected profits between Tk 20 to 25 lakh, thanks to low input costs and strong market demand.
Utilises shaded, unproductive land
Less labour-intensive
Reduces risks of waterlogging
Avoids tilling and land preparation
Minimises losses from natural disasters
Haque’s success has inspired numerous unemployed youth in the region to adopt the method.
Other farmers like Ashiq Uzzaman (45) and Mejbaul Hasan (48) of Biraldah village, Puthia Upazila, began small-scale sack farming three years ago. This year, they planted 3,000 sacks over 1.5 bighas of abandoned orchard land with an investment of Tk 80,000—expecting returns of Tk 5 lakh.
“Garden owners are now consulting us for guidance,”
— Ashiq Uzzaman
They plant ginger rhizomes in Chaitra and Baishakh (mid-March to mid-May), with crops ready for harvest in about six months.
| Official | Title | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Monzurul Huda | Former Director, DAE | “Sack farming promotes crop diversification and maximises land use.” |
| Umme Salma | Deputy Director, DAE | “Ginger has been cultivated in 400,750 sacks across shaded lands in Rajshahi this year.” |
| Atanu Sarker | Sub-Asst. Agriculture Officer, Godagari | “Rajshahi’s 900 hectares of mango orchards offer ideal conditions for sack farming on elevated, non-waterlogged land.” |
Mango orchard owners Nazrul Islam and Tariqul Islam expressed support for the method, citing the difficulty of ploughing orchard land and noting that sack farming provides a cost-effective, no-till solution that complements mango cultivation.
| Farmer/Official | Area/Role | No. of Sacks | Investment | Expected Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziaul Haque | Paba Upazila | 20,000 | — | Tk 20–25 lakh |
| Ashiq & Mejbaul | Puthia Upazila | 3,000 | Tk 80,000 | Tk 5 lakh |
| DAE (Total for Region) | Rajshahi | 400,750 | — | Significant boost to national supply |
Ginger sack farming is now being hailed as a model for sustainable agriculture, rural employment, and efficient land use across Rajshahi.
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