By Swapna Akter. Shafiqul Islam of Nilphamari has succeeded in growing malta without chemical fertiliser or pesticide, and this season the fruit has turned his fortunes around, encouraging others in the area. Branches bend under the weight of dense green leaves, and green malta hang from every tree. A group of enterprising farmers is now producing this remarkable fruit in Nilphamari's soil; on these trees the tasty malta seem to hang from every leaf.

Shafiqul Islam, of Gobindapur in Khokshabari union, Nilphamari Sadar upazila, was working abroad when he began to worry about finding work on his return. Back home, he started growing malta with advice, supervision and technical help from the agriculture department. In 2018 he planted 161 saplings on 41 decimals of land. The orchard bore fruit last year and sold about Tk 2 lakh worth of malta. This year the trees are carrying far more fruit than last year, and he has also planted China-3 oranges on another 21 decimals.

"While I was in Singapore I watched a programme by Shykh Seraj sir on malta farming, and from then on I dreamed of building a malta orchard," Shafiqul Islam said. "When I came back I showed my land to the local agriculture officer, and on his advice I planted malta saplings. The trees flowered within a year of planting, but as they were still small I picked off the flowers, keeping a few for trial. Last year I sold about Tk 2 lakh worth of fruit from this orchard. This year there is plenty of fruit and I hope to get a good price again."

Local resident Shamsul Haque said the two orchards have also given work to several farmers. After meeting local demand, the malta are supplied to the capital and other districts. Encouraged by this success, many farmers in the area buy fruit from Shafiqul Islam, and buy saplings and grafts to become growers themselves.

Abu Bakkar Siddique, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said the district's soil and climate are highly suitable for malta. "We are giving every possible help from the agriculture office. So far malta is grown on about 18 hectares in the district, and new growers are coming forward and succeeding," he said.

Source: Amader Shomoy. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.