Oranges hang in clusters among dense green leaves; from a distance it looks as if lights are glowing between them. People crowd in to see the orchard and many take photographs. This is the scene at the orange orchard of the couple Imran and Sumi in Bhikni village of Akkelpur upazila in Joypurhat. Seeing the good yield, many are becoming interested in growing oranges.

Imran Hossain of Bhikni village in Gopinathpur union set up an orchard of the BARI-2 orange variety on one bigha of land about five years ago. He first planted a few seedlings, then raised more by grafting. This is the first year the trees have borne heavily, and ripe oranges from this flat-land orchard have already gone on sale.

In the orchard, the trees are laden with clusters of oranges, some ripened to yellow and some still green. Imran and his wife tend the orchard together. Many branches have bent under the weight of the fruit and have been propped up with bamboo.

Imran Hossain said he first planted a few orange seedlings on one bigha of land around 2020. By grafting from them he now has 130 trees of the BARI Komola-2 variety. About 80 of the 130 trees are bearing fruit, each carrying 15 to 40 kg. Traders are now offering Tk 200-220 a kg wholesale.

"After coming into farming I kept thinking about how I could easily make more profit. Then I was inspired to grow oranges by watching YouTube," Imran told Jagonews. "I have succeeded growing oranges on this land and I am getting a very good price. The agriculture department is helping with advice and support. Unemployed young people should take up orange farming. There is no easier crop than this."

His wife Sumi Begum said: "We got this result through a lot of hard work. Many people said many things, that oranges grow in the hills and would not grow here, or that they would be bitter and small. But none of that happened. These oranges are very good and sweet. I am a housewife, and I look after the orchard alongside the household."

Shafiqul Islam, who came to buy seedlings, said: "I really liked the orchard. I had no idea such oranges could grow in Bangladesh's climate, and they are sweet too. I have bought ten seedlings from this grower's orchard. Those who want to take up orange farming can collect seedlings here, and then oranges will be produced on our own soil."

Akkelpur upazila agriculture officer Imran Hossain told Jagonews: "Oranges grown in hill areas are now growing on the plains as well. Imran has opened a path for unemployed young men and women by setting up the orchard. Anyone who comes forward as an entrepreneur will benefit."

The officer said the agriculture department is keeping track of the couple's orchard and giving them all kinds of advice.

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