Shafiqul Islam (27) and Mehedi Hasan (28) of Shankardi in Badarpasha union, Rajoir upazila, Madaripur, have become self-reliant by growing jujube (boroi). Growing Ball Sundari, Bharat Sundari and sour jujube, the two friends succeeded in their very first year. They started the orchard with determination and resolve, and their success has made many others interested in jujube farming.

The two began the orchard on annual lease terms. They first leased their own and other people's land and planted jujube on 5 bigha, putting in 500 saplings of three varieties collected from Jashore. Altogether it cost about Tk 4.5 lakh. Within just nine months every tree in the orchard was heavily laden, and they made a profit in the first year.

They then added 7 more units of land, bringing the total under jujube to 12 acres, the report says. Large, bright red jujubes that look like apples now fill the orchard, which has been fenced with netting because of the heavy crop. Fruit is already being picked and sold at Tk 4,000 a maund, and the growers hope to sell 600 maunds this season.

Shafiqul Islam said: "Wanting the two of us friends to do something together, we built a jujube orchard on 12 bigha of land. We used organic fertiliser and mulching, which is why the yield is good. Two workers are employed here permanently and another four or five work for daily wages. This year we hope to make a profit of Tk 8–10 lakh from selling jujube. We have now decided to extend the orchard on more farmland."

Mehedi Hasan said: "If educated unemployed young people plant orchards instead of sitting at home, they too can become self-reliant. I was working abroad, and before coming home I planned the jujube orchard with my friend. I came back, planted it and succeeded. Many people have started jujube orchards after seeing ours. When they come to us, we give them advice and help."

Dr Santosh Chandra Chanda, deputy director of the DAE in Madaripur, said: "On behalf of the agriculture department, I thank the two friends who set up the jujube orchard. We are giving growers every kind of advice and help in the field. We have learnt that they will be able to earn a lot of money from jujube in a single season. I hope others will see them and come forward to grow jujube."

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