Alongside other crops, farmers in Naogaon are turning to malta, a tasty, nutritious and juicy fruit. Interest in growing malta has grown in various parts of the district. Farmers have turned to malta because the prices of other fruits and crops have fallen and costs have risen. Farmers say everyone is interested in new varieties of fruit and crops. Buyers are also interested in any locally produced fruit, and it fetches a good price, so farmers have become more interested in malta. The weather is also favourable for malta and it tolerates natural disasters.

According to the Naogaon Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), BARI Malta-1 has been grown on a total of 51 hectares in the district. Of this, there are 2 hectares in Naogaon, 2 in Raninagar, 0.25 in Atrai, 5 in Badalgachhi, 0.05 in Mohadevpur, 5 in Patnitala, 20 in Dhamoirhat, 5 in Sapahar, 6 in Porsha, 0.5 in Manda and 0.25 in Niamatpur.

The agriculture department says malta is a tasty fruit, and this tasty, nutritious and juicy fruit is being grown in the district. Unemployed young people in the area are also becoming interested in malta alongside other crops. Farmers are interested in new fruits and crops in the hope of good prices. In several areas of the district, BARI Malta-1 is being grown on suitable land, where farmers have started growing malta alongside paddy. Malta yields well if good-variety saplings are planted in loam and sandy loam soil and given intensive care.

Malta farming began in Naogaon three years ago. The agriculture office is encouraging farmers and giving them all-round support. Last year small amounts of the fruit were sold in local markets, sold straight from the field without any chemicals. Buyers are comfortable buying the local fruit, and its taste is reported to be fairly good. Farmers consider the favourable weather suitable for malta.

Masud Parvez, a malta grower from Bedgari village in Raninagar upazila, said: "We made losses as paddy prices fell year after year. Once a fruit or crop gets a good price, farmers rush to grow it the next year, so with the same crop in the market the price falls."

He said: "Interest in new crops with new technology has grown. In 2018 I started on one acre with a demonstration from the agriculture office and some BARI Malta-1 saplings of my own. There are about 200 malta trees in the orchard. The agriculture office is giving all-round advice. In the first round, in October 2019, I sold malta worth about Tk 40,000-45,000. This year the trees are flowering heavily. When the fruit sets I will know whether I will make a profit. Malta does not need much cost or labour."

Rezuan Hossain, a farmer from Mahmudpur village in Dhamoirhat upazila, said: "Malta has been planted on about 18 bighas. The trees have started to flower. Interest in malta is growing because it is a new crop. It is less trouble and labour than other crops. And there is no chance of it being broken by natural disasters."

Raninagar upazila agriculture officer Md Shahidul Islam said: "Malta is a nutritious fruit. Farmers' interest in growing it has increased, and we are giving constant advice and support. With high demand in the market, farmers have got good prices and made a profit. Cultivation will be increased further in future."

Dhamoirhat upazila agriculture officer Md Selim Reza said: "The agriculture office is encouraging farmers to grow malta. Malta farming began three years ago. Malta has been planted on about 20 hectares in this upazila, and there are also about 30 demonstration plots. Our land is suitable for malta and the weather is favourable. BARI Malta-1 is in high demand because it is profitable and tasty."

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