Chapainawabganj is called the mango capital. Alongside mangoes, a foreign fruit, the China orange, is now emerging as a new opportunity in the district. Farmers are profiting by growing locally a fruit that has depended on imports. This is raising farmers' incomes on the one hand and reducing dependence on imported oranges on the other.

Farmer Sayem Ali is successfully growing China oranges in Ramchandrapur Hat village of Ranihati union in Sadar upazila. After losing money in the mango business, he started growing oranges as an alternative in 2022, and within two years he was back on his feet.

"I cared for the trees regularly on the advice of the agriculture department," Sayem Ali said. "The yield has been very good. I recovered all my costs in 2024. This time, growing on 3 bighas of land, I hope to sell about Tk 8 lakh worth of oranges."

Every day farmers, entrepreneurs and interested people come from different areas to see his orchard, observing the yield, tree care and farming methods.

Local farmer Azizul Islam told Jago News: "We used to think oranges only grew in hilly areas. Seeing such a good yield here, we are also getting interested in growing them."

Entrepreneur Faruk Chowdhury told Jago News: "Demand for these oranges is good in the market and the price is good too. If they can be grown commercially, there is great potential."

The agriculture department says the soil and climate of Chapainawabganj are well suited to orange farming, and that if cultivation is expanded in a planned way it will open a new horizon for foreign fruit production in the district.

Sadar upazila agriculture officer Md Sunain Bin Zaman told Jago News: "The soil and weather of this region are suitable for China orange cultivation. When farmers are interested, we provide technical support. This can increase production further."

Amir Abdullah Md Wahiduzzaman, additional deputy director (plant protection) of the district Department of Agricultural Extension, said the department is working to expand orange cultivation in the district. "Because of their good taste and market price, orange cultivation in Chapainawabganj is increasing day by day. This will help raise farmers' incomes and reduce imports of foreign fruit," he said.

According to the agriculture department, oranges are now being grown on about 165 hectares in the district. In a district known as the mango capital, the orange has become a symbol of new possibility.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.