Sarowar Hossain Babu is preparing to grow grapes commercially in Rajbari for the first time. Having succeeded with a trial on about 2 decimals of his homestead, he has decided to go commercial. He is preparing 70 decimals of land for an orchard with the 11 varieties he already has plus another 12 varieties collected from India.

Many people are becoming interested in grape farming because it is profitable with little labour and low cost. There are no extra costs. With organic fertiliser and proper care, a vine can bear fruit for 40-50 years. A vine fruits three times a year and yields one and a half to two maunds. Alongside his trial, Sarowar has started selling grape saplings by cutting, grafting and layering in 40 districts of the country.

According to the district office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), apart from Sarowar's trial at Bagama in Rajbari Sadar upazila, there is no commercial grape farming in the district so far.

Neighbour Azizur Rahman Biswas, and Alimuzzaman Molla and Kazi Jahangir, who came to see the orchard, were among those who said: "We have never seen grapes hanging on vines like this. They are very sweet. Each bunch has 200 to 600 grams of grapes. If others grew grapes like Sarowar, the price would not be so high. We used to think grape farming was hard and expensive, but now we see both the effort and the cost are low, and it is even profitable. We will grow grapes, even on a small scale, and are preparing land and looking for saplings."

"I am a mixed fruit grower," said Sarowar Hossain Babu. "I have wanted to grow grapes from the start. At the time I thought grapes in our country were not sweet. Still, last year I collected a few varieties from Russia and Ukraine and planted them in my homestead as a trial. I was delighted to see a far bigger yield this year than last. Many people come to see the grapes every day, and those who taste them praise them. That is why I have prepared about 70 decimals for commercial cultivation. I have sold grape saplings by courier to about 40 districts."

"If the government trains farmers and makes them capable, it will meet people's nutrition needs and the demand for high-value fruit," he said. "These grapes need hardly any poison or pesticide, just organic fertiliser and water in the soil. Grapes can be grown at very little cost and with little care. A vine gives fruit for about 50 years after planting. Each season a vine yields one and a half to two maunds or more, and it bears grapes three times a year."

Rajbari Sadar upazila agriculture officer Md Jony Khan said: "Sarowar Hossain has grown grapes on a trial basis for the first time this year. His grapes are good in taste and quality, which suggests Rajbari's soil and environment are suitable for grapes. Field-level sub-assistant agriculture officers advise farmers constantly. Seeing this cultivation and yield, many farmers nearby are inspired and hope to grow grapes in future."

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