There were unused spaces between the trees of a malta orchard, and cabbage is now being grown in them. It meets the family's needs, and selling the surplus on the market brings in extra income, while the malta orchard itself is also doing well. This is the story of Meraj Hasan Sajib, a young entrepreneur from Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat. After finishing his studies he did not chase a job; instead he set up a malta orchard on his own land, where five labourers now work.

Malta trees and cabbages now adorn the young entrepreneur's orchard. He started the malta orchard on 80 decimals of land in 2021, and later began growing cabbage in the unused spaces between the trees. Without any harm to the malta orchard, the cabbages gave a bumper yield, earning Sajib extra income.

Sajib is a young entrepreneur from Fakirpara union in Hatibandha upazila. Alongside his studies, he started the malta orchard, cabbage cultivation and ginger grown in 3,000 sacks. Just as he has succeeded with his orchard, seeing him has raised interest in gardening among people in the area.

Meraj Hasan Sajib said: "I started the malta orchard alongside my studies. Clearing weeds in the orchard costs a lot. On the advice of the agriculture department, I started growing cabbage in the gaps of the orchard. By the grace of Allah, the cabbage yield has been bumper. After meeting my household's needs, I am also selling at the market. In future I will grow unusual vegetables in the malta orchard. I plan to grow ginger in about 7,000 sacks."

Ali Hossain, a labourer in the orchard, told Jago News: "I work as a labourer in the malta orchard. My nephew Sajib is paying us our wages by selling cabbages. We are also taking cabbages home."

Local resident Mizanur Rahman said: "It is very pleasing to see the orchard. Two crops in the unused spaces of one plot is an unusual initiative. All farmers can see this orchard and grow two crops on one plot. That will bring farmers extra income."

According to the Lalmonirhat agriculture department, vegetables have been grown on about 4,000 hectares in the district this season. Farmers have grown more vegetables this year than in other years, and prices have fallen because of the large supply on the market.

Mizanur Rahman, agriculture officer of Hatibandha upazila, said: "The agriculture department is advising farmers to grow two or three crops on one plot. A young entrepreneur is earning extra income by growing cabbage in the unused spaces of a malta orchard while also caring for the malta trees. This is an example to follow."

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