Nashid, Mishel and Imon have built a mixed fruit orchard in Mirsarai, Chattogram. After finishing their studies, rather than chasing jobs, they are working towards becoming successful agricultural entrepreneurs. People come every day to see their mixed fruit orchard in South Olinagar village of the upazila's Karerhat union.

After completing their master's degrees, instead of looking for jobs they first planted a guava orchard on 3 acres. They then set up a malta orchard on 2 acres, an orange orchard on 1 acre and dragon fruit on 10 decimals. They hope to sell about Tk 12 lakh of guavas this year. Guavas from the orchard have been on sale for a week, with wholesalers and local people coming to the orchard every day to buy them. The guava orchard, built on fallow land, has been named Amigo Agro.

On a visit, bunches of guavas were seen hanging from trees across a large area, each fruit wrapped in a polythene bag. Nashid and Mehedi Hasan were tending the orchard. Malta and orange trees grow between the guava trees. Because the guavas are bagged, no pesticide is needed to control insects, and the fruit keeps a good colour. As well as producing pesticide-free fruit, the orchard has given work to several unemployed young men.

Nazrul Islam Nashid is the son of Abul Kashem of Papua village in Sonaimuri, Noakhali, and grew up in Chattogram city. After a master's in accounting from Chittagong Government Commerce College, he has been working hard to establish himself as an agricultural entrepreneur rather than chasing a job.

Nazrul Islam Nashid said: "My brother-in-law Abu Naser, who lives in Spain, bought 5 acres of land from a friend of his. At first the three of us friends built a few sheds there and started a poultry farm. After losing money for several years, we planted a guava orchard. During the coronavirus period we planted 2,500 guava saplings of the Super-10 and Thai Golden-8 varieties. We got the saplings from Jhenaidah at an average of Tk 35 each. In 2022 we sold about Tk 2.5 lakh worth of guavas."

He said: "In 2023 we sold about Tk 9 lakh of guavas. The same year we sold Tk 3.5 lakh worth of malta. Because we use no medicine on the guavas and malta in our orchard, there is strong demand among local people. We sell guavas at Tk 45 a kg wholesale and Tk 60 retail. The yield is much higher this year, and we hope to sell Tk 12 lakh worth."

The other friend, Syed Akram Hossain Mishel, said: "Besides guavas, the orchard has 600 BARI Malta-1 trees and 100 orange trees of two varieties. We hope the orange trees will start bearing fruit from next year. The local agriculture department helps us from time to time with various kinds of advice."

Mohammad Shahjahan, principal of Karerhat Ganiatul Ulum Alim Madrasa, said: "I often go to the guava orchard. I really enjoy it there. The guavas from that orchard are sweeter and tastier than those in the market."

AHM Mominul Haque, sub-assistant agriculture officer in charge of Karerhat union, said: "Thai guava is a new variety. We advise farmers to bag their guavas. That keeps insects away, so no pesticide is needed, and the fruit also gets an attractive colour. Because they have done that here, guavas are being grown without pesticide. They have also succeeded with malta."

Mirsarai upazila agriculture officer Pratap Chandra Roy said: "I thank the entrepreneurs who have set up guava, malta and orange orchards on fallow land in the South Olinagar area of Karerhat union. Seeing them, many others will want to plant guava orchards. Our support will always continue."

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