After malta, dates, pomegranate and coffee, farmers in Rajshahi's Barind Tract, with its uneven and relatively hard soil, are turning to commercial China and Darjeeling oranges. RTV Online reports from the orchard of Shafiqul Islam in Jotgorib village, Mundumala municipality, Tanore upazila, where clusters of small oranges weigh down the branches.
Originally from Chapainawabganj, Shafiqul returned after years abroad and five years ago planted a mixed fruit orchard on about 40 bighas in Tanore. On about 100 decimals (one acre) of it he planted 200 China and 50 Darjeeling orange saplings. The trees have fruited for two years; last year they gave about 80 maunds for the first time, and with a heavy set this year he expects more than 100 maunds and plans to expand.
"I never thought such sweet oranges could be grown in the hard soil of the Barind," he said. Seeing his harvest, many local farmers are taking an interest, and people come from different areas every day to see the orchard and taste the fruit. He won first place in the individual category (C) of the National Tree Plantation Award 2025 for his work on tree planting and conservation.
In nearby Amnura, farmer Motiur Rahman has planted oranges on five bighas instead of rice and has begun to harvest. Speaking on 9 November, he said field-level agriculture officers had encouraged and trained farmers to grow the fruit.
Tanore upazila agriculture officer Saifullah Ahmed said small China oranges could open new opportunities for Barind farmers. Where rice needs a lot of water and returns relatively little, he said, oranges can earn about one lakh taka a bigha a year, and Shafiqul's success will encourage others.
In the water-scarce Barind, orchards that need less irrigation than rice are one way to raise farm incomes. Shafiqul hopes that wider orange growing in the region will help meet local demand and the country's wider need for fruit.
Photo: Jon Sullivan / Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Source: RTV Online
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