As the days pass, juicy green malta hangs in orchards in several upazilas of Brahmanbaria, including Bijoynagar. It is a lovely sight, and farmers are dreaming of better fortunes, their hearts full of joy. The green malta, distinctive in taste and quality, is the most widely grown: dark green outside and full of sweet juice inside.

The agriculture department says the soil of Kasba, Akhaura and Bijoynagar in the district is excellent for malta. Because yields and profits are good, the area under malta grows every year. BARI-1 and BARI-2 malta varieties are grown on 135 hectares in the three upazilas. Juicy green malta hangs from tree after tree and will be mature in a few days.

Malta has been grown in the three upazilas for the past six or seven years. Because it brings high profit at low cost, new farmers turn to green malta every year. Green malta grown without any chemicals is good in taste and quality, so demand for it is high. Farmers sell green malta to wholesalers at Tk 80-100 a kg. Most wholesalers buy directly from farmers' orchards, and it is through them that Brahmanbaria's malta is marketed across the country.

Malta farmer Rafiq Mia said: "This year I grew malta on two kani of land, and the yield is very good. But I have sold the whole orchard to wholesalers for Tk 3.5 lakh. They will be able to sell Tk 4.5-5 lakh worth of malta."

Another farmer, Shipon Mia, said he has grown malta on 40 decimals of land beside his house. The yield is somewhat higher this year, and he hopes to get at least one tonne of malta, worth about Tk 1.5 lakh at market prices. Looking after the whole orchard cost him only Tk 25,000.

Rabiul Haque Majumder, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Brahmanbaria, said a yield of 2,700 tonnes is expected this year. The agriculture department is advising farmers on cultivation techniques and pest management.

Reported by Touhidur Rahman.

Source: Amader Shomoy. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.