A History of Cannabis (Ganja) as an Economic Crop in Bangladesh from the Late 18^th Century to 1989

Abstract

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.), known as ‘ganja’ in Bangladesh, is an important multi-use crop that has many potential applications. Ganja cultivation in Bangladesh has a long history. It was cultivated from the late 18^th century until 1987, when it ceased because of Bangladesh’s commitment to an international narcotics agreement. There is a wealth of historical information about the cultivation, regulations, and sale of ganja in the Naogaon District of Bangladesh. However, these records are in very poor condition. Many are handwritten in the local language, are poorly archived, and are stored under unsuitable conditions. The aim of this study was to collect and summarize them before they disintegrated. Here, we provide important information collected from these historical records. We describe the introduction of ganja to Bangladesh by the British and summarize historical information about the cultivation area and the volumes, prices, and grades of ganja. We also discuss policies that were developed to regulate the industry and protect farmers’ livelihoods. Although data are not available for the whole history of the cultivation, our dataset is the most complete record of information related to ganja in Bangladesh. This traditional knowledge and historical information will be useful to explain new agricultural strategies in the future.