Interest in fruit farming is growing in Meherpur. With suitable weather, good yields and profits, farmers have planted orchards of various fruits. Instead of rice, wheat or other traditional crops, many farmers in the district are now turning to orchards, with interest rising especially in mango, lychee, banana, guava, dragon fruit and malta, all of which are in demand and fetch good prices. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) says various initiatives are under way to expand fruit farming in the district.

According to the DAE in Meherpur, mango was grown on 2,336 hectares in the 2022-23 fiscal year and on 2,366 hectares in 2023-24. Malta covered 76 hectares in 2022-23 and 105 hectares in 2023-24. Banana was grown on 2,526 hectares in 2022-23 and 2,590 hectares in 2023-24.

Lychee cultivation has also increased, from 715 hectares in 2022-23 to 725 hectares in 2023-24, an increase of 10 hectares. The district's fruit orchards covered 6,390 hectares in 2022-23, rising to 6,426 hectares in 2023-24.

Local farmers say they are turning to fruit because profits are higher and care costs comparatively lower. Because of changing weather, they repeatedly suffer losses on rice, wheat and other seasonal crops, whereas fruit trees have proved long-lasting and resilient in the area.

Shakhawat Hossain, a farmer from Amjhupi village in Meherpur Sadar upazila, told Jagonews24: "I used to grow only rice and wheat. For the past four years I have had mango and lychee orchards on six bighas. Now I earn a good annual income from them."

Another farmer, Zahir Hossain, said: "I used to grow rice and wheat. Now I have a mango orchard on three bighas, which earns Tk 2 lakh to Tk 2.5 lakh a year." He said Meherpur's Himsagar mango has received GI recognition, so demand for the district's mangoes will multiply in future.

Nasir Uddin, a farmer from Harirampur village in Meherpur, said a few years ago he grew only rice and wheat. He now grows dragon fruit on two bighas, earning Tk 1.5 lakh to Tk 2 lakh a year. "Meherpur's dragon fruit is in demand in Dhaka and various other districts. Demand is also developing in international markets for some fruits such as dragon fruit and malta. These orchards are making farmers more financially self-reliant," he said.

Liton Biswas, a malta grower from Amjhupi village, said: "A few years ago I planted a malta orchard on 12 bighas. Last year I sold malta worth Tk 18 lakh. This year I hope to sell more." He said he grew the fruit because of the suitable weather, good yield and profit.

Atik Hossain, another farmer from the same village, said: "Because it is profitable I planted a malta orchard on six bighas. Last year I sold malta worth Tk 16 lakh. This year I hope to sell even more." Another grower, Kabir Hossain, said he planted malta on six bighas this year and hopes to sell fruit next year.

Samsul Alam, deputy director of the DAE in Meherpur district, said training, incentives and low-interest loans are being provided by the government to expand orchards, and in many areas fruit tree saplings are being distributed free to farmers.

"Fruit sales have begun from malta orchards on 76 hectares, China orange orchards on 25 hectares and dragon fruit orchards on 45 hectares in the district. Farmers in the district are turning to orchards. Meherpur will see a revolution not only in vegetables but also in fruit production," he said.

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