A farmer has become successful in experimental cultivation of newly introduced sugar beet on his one decimal of land at Mahidhar Khandak village of Chhinay union in Rajarhat upazila under the district this year.

The large pale brown root crop serves as a raw material for commercial production of sugar, besides being taken as a vegetable.

"A local official of Laltir Seed Company Ltd gave me a small amount of sugar beet seeds free of cost for experimental cultivation. I have sown the seeds on one decimal of land in the third week of December last year and invested about Tk 250 for it," said the farmer, Akkas Ali, 49, during this correspondent's visit to his sugar beet field a few days ago.

He has already started reaping the item and giving to villagers and visitors to make it familiar to them.

"I am expecting over 600 kg of sugar beet (with leaves) from the land. The produce may be sold for Tk 3,000, at Tk 5 per kg in the local market. I shall preserve its seeds for cultivation on over 12 decimals of land next year," said Akkas.

Israt Hossain, head of production of Laltir Seed Company Ltd in Rangpur, said, "Sugar beet is a raw material for commercial production of sugar. It contains 16%-20% of sugar while sugarcane contains 12%-15% of the item. Sugar beet becomes suitable for sugar extraction after three months of sowing seeds while sugarcane takes 12-14 months for the purpose."

"Sugar beet and its leaves are also used as vegetable for human consumption and feed for fish, poultry and cattle. Farmers will hopefully be encouraged to do the profitable cultivation," he said.