Growing a high-yielding variety of papaya has changed the fortunes of Abdus Samad Mia, a farmer of Palashbari upazila in Gaibandha. His papaya farming has already caused a stir locally, and many farmers in the area are now keen to follow him. Abdus Samad is the son of the late Ashek Ali Mamun of Kalugari village in Palashbari municipality.

In his papaya orchard, countless green papayas hang from every tree in the rows, with a few ripe ones here and there among the bunches. He has been picking and selling papayas from the trees for three months.

Abdus Samad grows papaya on four bighas. About 15 years ago he collected selected seeds of the Sonali variety and started growing papaya on one bigha, then gradually expanded. He now grows it on four bighas.

Papaya gives more profit than other crops, and costs are very low. Growing papaya on four bighas cost him Tk 1 lakh. At the orchard he sells green papaya at Tk 400 a maund and ripe papaya at Tk 1,000 a maund.

Besides selling at the orchard, he sells in Gaibandha town, Gobindaganj and various markets in Palashbari. One papaya tree yields two to two and a half maunds of fruit. A single papaya from the orchard can weigh up to five and a half kilograms, and a tree bears fruit for two years.

Abdus Samad told Jago News: "I have been growing papaya for about 15 years. I started with one bigha and now farm four. The cost is lower and the profit higher than other crops, so I grow papaya. I am also encouraging local people who are interested in growing it."

Awal Hossain, who came to the orchard to buy papaya, and fresh-produce trader Kajiul Islam told Jago News: "We regularly buy papaya from brother Samad's orchard to sell. Every day we take 15 to 20 maunds of green and ripe papaya. The quality here is good. We are buying at Tk 1,100 to 1,200 a maund. We also send this papaya to Dhaka."

Upazila health and family planning officer Dr Mohammad Anisur Rahman told Jago News: "Papaya keeps the body healthy and removes toxins from it. It also helps cure fever and various stomach problems, and is very beneficial for gastric trouble and indigestion. Green papaya is rich in enzymes that help digestion."

Palashbari upazila agriculture officer Mst Fatema Kawsar Mishu said: "To encourage farmers to grow papaya, the agriculture department continues to support them with various incentives, including fertiliser and seed. Farmers are being motivated and given advice."

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