In a small village in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi, rows of reddish pomegranates grow amid the green, with bees buzzing in one corner and an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based camera keeping watch in another. Young entrepreneur Shibli Sadik Shuvo has combined technology and natural methods to create an unusual example of modern farming.

Shibli, of Holidagachhi village, brought a pomegranate tree from India a few years ago and planted it in his yard. Within six months it produced promising fruit, and he decided to grow pomegranates commercially. His orchard, on a little more than one and a half bighas, now has about 300 trees.

He says planning, regular care and modern technology are essential, and he pays close attention to each tree's care, fertiliser, irrigation and disease control. The orchard produces two crops a year: in winter fruit takes five to six months to mature, and in the rainy season three and a half to four months.

• Drawing on his technical education, he has installed an AI-based surveillance camera system that secures the orchard around the clock, cuts security costs and lets him check the orchard remotely on his phone.
• To tackle poor pollination and flower drop, a major challenge in pomegranate growing, he has installed beehives, increasing natural pollination and yields.
• According to the upazila agriculture officer, he has built his own harvesting tool, raising output and lowering costs, and uses organic inputs rather than chemical pesticides, which keeps pests largely under control.

"This eco-friendly method is more effective in the long run and economically profitable," Shibli said. "In April this year I sold about 490 kg of pomegranates at Tk 500 a kg." By his estimate a tree can produce Tk 5,000 to Tk 6,000 of fruit a year, so the orchard could earn several lakh taka annually.

Two workers regularly make grafts in the orchard, and eight to ten people are employed daily in care, cleaning and harvesting. Neighbour Md. Abdur Rahman said many who once doubted pomegranate farming are now interested in fruit growing. Shibli is preparing a new orchard of another 100 trees and advises young entrepreneurs to start small and expand gradually.

Charghat upazila agriculture officer Md. Al Mamun Hasan said the office provides regular technical support, fertiliser and other inputs, and advice on pruning, calling Shibli a model entrepreneur who has also created jobs. Ridwanul Karim, scientific officer at the Rajshahi Fruit Research Centre, said commercial pomegranate growing has growing potential in Bangladesh, and with the right variety, care, balanced fertiliser, pruning and integrated pest management it can be profitable and reduce import dependence.

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