It is a small rooftop garden, planted with many varieties of dragon fruit. The ripe red, green and yellow fruits on the stems look beautiful and taste very sweet. He started with two varieties, but the garden now has at least 60 varieties of dragon fruit, at least 30 of which have borne fruit. Alongside the dragon fruit there is passion fruit, a hill fruit. With this garden, built bit by bit over several years, young Himel Molla of Shariatpur has scored a success. He earns Tk 30,000 a month from it, and his rooftop garden has amazed people.

Himel Molla, 26, is the son of Haidar Molla and Hasia Begum of Dubisaybar in Baro Kandi union of Jajira upazila. He did not study further after finishing higher secondary. He had loved gardening since childhood and decided to start a garden during the coronavirus period. With little space at home, he chose the roof. His father did not agree at first, but later, seeing his son's enthusiasm, bought him saplings himself. Himel chose dragon fruit because it has low costs, needs little care and suffers little disease.

He gradually collected and planted 60 varieties of dragon fruit saplings. At least 30 varieties have fruited, including Purple Haze, Big Pink, Pink Rose, Bruni Bari-1, Physical Graffiti, Vietnamese Red, Red Self, Yellow, Big White, Thai Red, Connie Mayer, Boulder, Red Velvet, Taiwan Red, Aussie Gold, Asunta-3 and Blackis Red. Each tastes different, and the fruits are very juicy and delicious.

Because the dragon fruit from his garden is organic, it is in great demand. He sells it at Tk 500 a kg and still cannot meet demand. He also sells cuttings, earning several lakh taka a year from them. The garden also has six varieties of passion fruit, mulberry and various varieties of grape, and he earns good money selling their saplings. If he gets incentives, he wants to grow dragon fruit and passion fruit commercially. Older and younger members of his family help care for the garden, and seeing it, many people have become interested in rooftop gardening.

His father Haidar Molla said: "When my son talked about planting trees on the roof, I did not agree. I thought the roof would be damaged. At one point I agreed to keep his wish. Now I see he is having great success with the rooftop garden. We eat the dragon fruit from his garden and give it to relatives. Instead of sitting around in idle company, he spends his time caring for the plants, and I am very glad to see it. Himel earns his own pocket money and sometimes helps us too."

Local youth Rakib Hasan said: "Himel's thoughts, knowledge and love all revolve around this rooftop garden. Instead of wasting time in idle company, he has succeeded with it. I also want to make a rooftop garden like his."

Himel Molla said: "I have loved planting trees since childhood. From watching various videos I learned that dragon fruit farming is less trouble, so I started with two varieties. Gradually I managed to grow 60 varieties in my garden, and 30 have now borne fruit. I earn well selling dragon fruit. I also have passion fruit plants in the garden and sell their saplings at a good price. I want to farm commercially, and that is possible if I get government support."

Mohammad Riazur Rahman, additional deputy director (horticulture) of the district Department of Agricultural Extension, said: "We commend this young man named Himel. He is an entrepreneur who has brought in 60 varieties of dragon fruit. If he wants to farm commercially, the agriculture department will stand by him with all kinds of advice."

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