Sharmin Khatun had no farmland of her own, only the plot her house stands on. Growing malta oranges on leased land has changed that for the homemaker from Dibigram union in Chatmohar upazila of Pabna. Locals now call her 'Malta Bhabi', and she has been recognised as a successful woman entrepreneur.

In late 2023 she leased two bighas for five years and planted Vietnamese and BARI-1 malta. Yields were limited for the first two years but picked up last year. After paying the lease and other costs she made a profit of more than Tk 2 lakh in the first year of good yields. This season the trees are laden with fruit, and she hopes to clear at least Tk 4 lakh after all costs.

Farmers in the area usually grow rice, mustard and vegetables; she was the first to try malta and faced neighbours' taunts at the start. Because green malta fetches a lower price in local markets, she has now planted one more bigha with a yellow Australian variety.

Although the orchard sits in a hard-to-reach spot beside the railway line, visitors come every day to see it and ask for advice. Jamal and Prokash Chandra, who came from Bhangura, said they have fallow land and would take up malta if it proves profitable.

Ariful Islam, sub-assistant agriculture officer for Kamalpur block, said the extension office has supervised the orchard and arranged training from the start. Another sub-assistant agriculture officer, Saidur Rahman Sayeed, said the Vietnamese variety, which fruits all year and is sweet and juicy, is quickly winning favour in the area.

Upazila agriculture officer Kuntala said many farmers became interested after her malta was shown at a local fruit fair, and malta cultivation in the upazila is expected to grow. Her story shows that a farmer without land can still make an orchard pay on leased ground.

Source: Desh Rupantor