An agricultural entrepreneur in Bogra has successfully cultivated black sugarcane and produced jaggery and red sugar from it. This has resulted in a market for commercial sales of jaggery and red sugar, reducing import dependence on sugar. The success of his experimental farming has encouraged the cultivation of black sugarcane in the area. He collected 16 seedlings from the Philippines, from which seven survived. He then cultivated more seedlings, which he sold to local farmers.
From eight bigha of land, he was able to produce two tons of jaggery at a cost of about 50,000 rupees per bigha. The jaggery is being sold at Tk 200 per kg, and he expects the price to double next year. The agriculture department of Bogra is encouraging farmers to cultivate black sugarcane, giving them various suggestions and plans to spread it at the farmer level. The increased production of black sugarcane will create a larger market for jaggery and red sugar and reduce the need for sugar imports.
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