Sweet grapes have grown in Lebutala, Jashore. Farmer Munsur Ali has caused a stir by growing them on a large plot, with bunches hanging across his one-bigha field. People are crowding in to see them, and farmers from different areas are seeking advice and buying saplings. Those who once called Munsur mad for trying to grow grapes in this soil are now amazed and singing his praises.

Munsur Ali is a farmer from Lebutala village in Jashore Sadar upazila. He had earlier bought grafts and saplings from nurseries around the country but got no fruit; when he did get some, it was very sour and small in quantity. Finally, 20 months ago, he planted saplings of the Indian Choyon variety on 33 decimals of land. Inspired by YouTube, he brought in 120 saplings. Fruit appeared seven months after planting, and he says these Indian grapes were sweet.

Munsur Ali said he began the venture with saplings brought from India through a neighbour. The first time, the vines fruited after seven months and he got 5-7 maunds, but because it was his first crop he sold none and gave it all away to local people. This second time the vines are heavily laden, and he hopes to get more than 200 maunds of grapes from the 33 decimals. The vines will bear fruit for up to 30 years.

"Watching YouTube, I thought our country's soil is like gold. Whatever is grown here grows, so grapes will too. But farming by watching YouTube cost me quite a lot. This year I have started farming another one and a half bighas," he said.

He said the vines were planted 8 feet apart. Before planting, the land was prepared and each pit was given five kilograms of material: brick dust, coarse sand and organic fertiliser, mixed with soil in 3-foot pits. The soil around the base of each vine is raised so that water does not collect there. So that the vines can grow tall quickly, he has built a raised trellis on cement posts, which also reduces the risk of the vines breaking in storms and rain.

Alongside grapes, Munsur is also producing saplings. Seeing the bumper crop, farmers are turning to grape farming, and many come from different districts to buy saplings from him. They are buying grafted grape saplings at Tk 200-300 each.

Claiming his orchard is the only one in the region, Munsur Ali said: "I hope to get 200 maunds of fruit this year. The fruit is usually ready to eat in 80-85 days, and what is on the vines now will be edible within three weeks. The hardest part was that when I started, people around me mocked me in various ways. Many even called me mad. I could not even sit in the shop. Now my joy knows no bounds. Many people come every day to see the grapes, and agriculture officers are coming too. I hope to make a good profit this year. So far I have spent about Tk 4-5 lakh; there is not much cost now."

Ator Ali, a farmer from Lebutala village, said: "The year Munsur planted grapes, it seemed they would not grow. We said, what is Munsur doing? But this year the vines hold fruit worth lakhs of taka, and people are coming from different places to see them. We will grow them too. We grow bitter gourd, but vegetables are finished in 3-4 months. Grapes are a crop for many years."

Sumon Mia came from Kaliganj upazila in Jhenaidah to collect grape saplings. "I did not know sweet grapes could grow in our country. I came after seeing Munsur bhai's grapes on YouTube. I really like seeing the vineyard. I will grow this fruit on 10 kathas of land for the first time, and I have come here for advice and to buy saplings," he said.

Md Abu Talha, additional deputy director (crops) of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Jashore, said: "Nobody in Jashore has been able to make such an orchard before. Sweet grapes are not usually grown in our country, but Munsur Ali brought saplings from India and has succeeded. If everyone plants two vines at home, their household demand for grapes will also be met."

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