Sweet success: Jibankrishna's stevia cultivation takes off

Jibankrishna Roy from Kaliganj in Lalmonirhat is successfully cultivating stevia, a natural sugar substitute, in response to the rising demand for healthier alternatives to sugar.

As sugar consumption grows, Jibankrishna, a 38-year-old assistant engineer at Aditmari Upazila Engineer's Office, decided to explore alternative crops. 

In his spare time, he planted a stevia garden at his home in the Sonarhat area of Chalbala Union. 

Stevia is known for its high sweetness—each kilogram of stevia powder can replace 30 to 35 kilograms of sugar, without the adverse effects on diabetics.

After experimenting with just 17 seedlings, Jibankrishna’s stevia garden flourished, producing over 100 plants within eight months. 

His success has attracted local interest, with many visiting his garden to see the plants and collect seedlings. 

Inspired by this growth, Jibankrishna now plans to cultivate stevia on a commercial scale, expanding to 1 acre of land.

“I first learned about stevia during a training session. After researching on YouTube and ordering seedlings online, I started with 17 plants from Dahgram Union. Now, my garden has grown to 200 saplings in just eight months,” Jibankrishna shared.

He has already sent stevia powder to the Rangpur Diabetes Association, where patients tested it successfully by making tea. 

Stevia's sweet leaves offer a healthy alternative for diabetics, who can consume it without concern.

Locals, fascinated by the sweet taste of stevia leaves, are flocking to his garden. 

Some have taken seedlings to grow their own plants, while others, like local resident Shah Ali, have expressed surprise at the sweetness of the leaves compared to sugar. “I came to see the garden after hearing that stevia leaves are sweeter than sugar. It’s really a great alternative,” Ali remarked.

Dr Abdul Qadir Gani, a diabetes specialist at Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex, confirmed that stevia is safe for diabetics.

Lalmonirhat Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Director Dr Saykhul Arefin stated, "Stevia is a viable alternative to sugar. I have learned that it is already being cultivated in Lalmonirhat. We plan to provide training to farmers in the district for stevia cultivation. If its production increases, it could significantly help address the sugar shortage."

Despite recent heavy rains damaging some plants, Jibankrishna remains optimistic and continues to expand his stevia cultivation.