For the first time, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Agriculture has provided incentives worth Tk 10 crore to over 12,000 cotton farmers across the country. The support package—covering fertilizer, seeds, and pesticides—is expected to generate an additional Tk 70 crore in cotton yield, according to the Cotton Development Board (CDB), which also hinted at further incentive expansion in the future. Fourth Episode – Series Report on Cotton Cultivation by Sushanta Singha

In Tangail’s Nagarpur, vast fields along the Dhaleshwari River are now filled with “white gold” (cotton). Farmers are reporting good yields despite heavy rains, with income from just two bighas reaching up to Tk 1 lakh, making cotton more attractive than crops like tobacco.

Officials note that Bangladesh produced 200,000 bales of cotton last year, equivalent in value to $120 million of imports when considering cotton, edible oil, and seed cake. Experts also highlight that cotton’s deep root system improves soil fertility, adding environmental benefits to its economic potential.

Expanding cotton cultivation, backed by incentives, could significantly reduce import dependency while boosting farmers’ incomes.