A team of researchers from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SBAU)) has achieved great success in cultivating oil crop 'Perila' in the country. As a result, a few non-governmental organizations have shown interest in cultivating ‘Sau Perilla-1’ commercially. Its seeds have already been distributed to the private company 'Lal-Tir'.
It is learned that the demand for edible oil in the country is mostly dependent on imports. The annual demand is 51.27 lakh metric tons. Of which about 46.21 lakh metric tons of oil was imported. The rest is produced in the country.
Researchers hope that the country will be able to cultivate new edible oil, Sau Perilla. This will bring unimaginable changes in the country's economy. This will greatly reduce the import dependence of the oil market in Bangladesh.
Sau Perilla is a new oil crop adapted to high yielding and nutritious climate in Bangladesh. Apart from Bangladesh, Perilla is already cultivated in several countries in South East Asia including South Korea, Japan, China, Nepal, Vietnam and some parts of India. It is a crop of Lamiaceae (Mint Crop) family.
Scientific name Perilla frutescens. In the last few years, a team of researchers from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in the capital has been able to successfully adapt this crop to the climate of Bangladesh. A team of researchers from Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University has achieved great success in cultivating oil crop 'Perilla'. It is known that this oil, which is beneficial for the body, does not contain any harmful uric acid. Moreover, oil can be extracted in the domestic method.
Scientists are of the opinion that the predominance of the oil produced in the country will be higher than the high priced oil imported from abroad in terms of quality. This year, the country is going to start commercial cultivation on a large scale. Oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids will be able to reduce the country's oil deficit as well as make a significant contribution to the country's economy.
It is known that Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Professor of Agriculture. H. M. M. Tariq Hossain started research in the country in 2007 on the variety collected from South Korea. "We can extract oil rich in linolenic acid from the crop," he told Barta24.com about the crop adapted for the Kharif-2 season which is more beneficial than ordinary oil and also has higher market price.
The farmer can produce the seeds himself, save them and cultivate them later. You can also extract oil naturally. The farmers will benefit a little more. He further said, in a meeting to expand the cultivation of this oil crop, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahidur Rashid Bhuiyan, Treasurer Professor Md. Nazrul Islam, agriculture organizer Rezaul Karim Siddique, the seeds of Sau Perilla-1 have been distributed to Lal Tir, the country's largest oil producer.
Kushtia district Aqaba nursery director Ruhul Amin told Barta24.com that in 13 areas of experimental cultivation there was no need to use any pesticides in completely organic farming. Six thousand saplings can be cultivated per bigha. But I got about 200 kg of seeds in half of the cultivation. The cost of production is the same as all other oilseeds. However, there is no cost of pesticides as there is no disease.
Sau Perilla-1 researcher Mohammad Abdul Qayum Majumder said, ‘Usually edible oil crop is cultivated during Rabi season. Recently Lal Teer seeds have been distributed. The Akij Group has also expressed interest in this. The Department of Agricultural Extension is providing maximum cooperation. We hope that the commercial cultivation of Sau Perilla-1 will start soon in the country.
He added, "25 per cent of these seeds contain a lot of protein. As a result, the oil obtained from the oil can be used as a nutritious food or organic fertilizer for cattle. It is possible to harvest this crop at home in 70-75 days. A maximum of 1.5 tons of seeds can be collected per hectare. Scientists hope that just as the amount of oil imported from commercial farming will decrease, so too will the Sau Perilla-1 bring about a radical change in the country's economy.