Babar Sheikh, a young agricultural entrepreneur in Boalmari, Faridpur, has succeeded in growing grapes. His orchard has produced a bumper crop, and the grapes, selling at Tk 500 a kg, have already caught buyers' attention. The agriculture department says his success could open new possibilities for the crop.

Babar Sheikh, son of Md Ayub Sheikh of Gunbaha in Gunbaha union, began growing grapes experimentally on just 20 decimals of land in 2022. After some success he planted another 20 decimals. He also sells grape saplings. His orchard has vines of the Baikonur, Australia King and Black Ruby varieties.

On a visit, bunches of red, green and pale golden grapes could be seen hanging from every vine. They look attractive and taste sweet and juicy. Farmers, entrepreneurs and visitors come from far and wide every day to see the orchard.

Visitor Sobhan Sheikh said: "Seeing him, I have become interested in growing grapes too. I didn't know grapes could grow like this in our country, in the soil of our area. Seeing this crop, I want to plant a vineyard. I have already prepared one acre of land for it, and I have come to look at saplings."

Md Tanmoy Islam Akash, who came to buy grapes, said: "I heard about it and travelled several kilometres to come straight to the orchard to buy grapes. It feels great to see grapes hanging from the vines. I ate grapes from the vine without formalin; they are very sweet. I have bought a few kilos for home."

Babar Sheikh told Jago News: "I wanted to do something new, not conventional farming, so I started growing grapes in 2022. But in the first year the grapes were sour and I lost money. I started again with 46 saplings of the Russian Baikonur variety. Now I have 200 vines of three varieties. The yield is good. I am selling grapes at Tk 500 a kg, and grapes and saplings are selling from home. I am earning one to one and a half lakh taka from this. Grape farming is profitable for me."

He said land preparation, saplings, fertiliser, pesticide and labour together cost more than one and a half lakh taka. "I sell 6 to 7 kg of grapes a day on average. Many people are contacting me for saplings. I am now selling two kinds of saplings at Tk 200 and Tk 250. If grape farming can be spread in our own country, dependence on imported grapes will fall a great deal."

His father, Ayub Sheikh, told Jago News: "When my son first wanted to plant the orchard, I didn't agree. Who knew what would come of a foreign fruit? Later I thought it over, agreed and gave him the land. When the fruit came, my heart was full. Now we are selling grapes, and people come from different places to see it. It feels very good."

Amir Charu Bablu, a resident of the upazila who visited the orchard, told Jago News: "Babar Sheikh has succeeded in growing grapes on our own soil with several varieties. His orchard has already made quite a stir in the area, and people are crowding in to see it and buy grapes."

Boalmari upazila agriculture officer Alvir Rahman said: "Several grape varieties including Baikonur have been grown successfully in this upazila's soil for the first time. It is a sweet variety and there is demand for it in the market. This is a very promising venture. With the right technology and the agriculture department's advice, commercial grape farming can be expanded in this area. The agriculture department is standing by him and giving support."

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