Mirza Galib Ujjal, a young orchard owner in Meherpur town, has succeeded in growing the high-value Japanese Miyazaki mango. His success has prompted many in the district to show interest in planting orchards of the variety, and the agriculture department says it will give farmers full support to grow it.

Two and a half years ago Mirza Galib planted 77 Miyazaki mango trees on 2 bighas of land in Gopalpur village in Meherpur Sadar upazila, and they have now borne fruit. On the world market the variety sells for up to Tk 2 lakh a kg. According to the agriculture department, mango orchards of various varieties cover 2,366 hectares in the district.

"About ten years ago I learned about this mango from Benu Khatun, who lives in Japan. I planned then to grow it in Bangladesh. Two and a half years ago I bought 77 Miyazaki trees from Natore, planted them on 2 bighas and cared for them well. This year 50 of the trees bore fruit. From planting to fruiting it has cost about Tk 2 lakh. This variety has hardly any disease," Ujjal said.

"I want to give the people of the country this mango with its medicinal qualities. I will not sell the fruit this year. A price for this mango has not yet been set in Meherpur. From next year I would like to sell it in superstores, and if demand grows I plan to expand the orchard," he added.

Local people and other orchard owners are crowding into the orchard to see the new maroon-coloured mango, which they had never seen before. Seeing the good yield in Ujjal's orchard, they are keen to plant their own.

Saidur Rahman, who came to see the orchard, said: "I had never seen an orchard of such a high-value new mango variety. I am very happy to have come to see Ujjal's orchard. In future I will plant a few bighas of Miyazaki mango. The agriculture department has promised full support for growing it."

Samsul Alam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Meherpur, said: "This variety has medicinal qualities. It is very effective in preventing diabetes and cancer, improving digestion and boosting immunity. Farmers in the district, including Ujjal, are being encouraged to grow high-value fruit like this."

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