Farmers in Chapainawabganj are turning to strawberry farming, and the number grows every year. Strawberries grown here meet the district's demand and are supplied to the capital and other districts. The district is now the country's best for strawberries, and in one of its upazilas strawberries worth about Tk 70 crore are sold.

The agriculture department says this strawberry, of the American Festival variety, is grown most in the Kalupur, Bhangabridge, Parkalupur and Pardilalpur areas of Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj. As these areas have no local market, growers themselves send the fruit to Dhaka and other regions for sale.

Anarul Islam, a strawberry grower of Pardilam village in Shahbazpur union of Shibganj upazila, said: "For a few years now I have been cutting down mango trees and growing strawberries commercially. Demand has risen in Ramadan and prices are good, so I am making a profit."

Ahsan Sajib, a young man from the area, said he had been drifting after finishing his honours degree. With help from agriculture officials he grew strawberries this year on 2 bighas and is selling up to 50 kg a day.

He told Jagonews: "After finishing honours I am growing strawberries. At first people mocked me, and I was hurt inside. From a small crop at first, I am now selling more than 50 kg of strawberries, at Tk 600 a kg. My income is Tk 30,000 a day, and after costs I make a profit of more than Tk 15,000 a day."

Shafik Ali of Kalopur village in Durlabhpur union of Shibganj upazila said: "Strawberries have changed the face of our village. Most people in the village now grow strawberries, and many have become self-reliant from it."

A strawberry grower named Abdul Karim said: "I had been losing money on mangoes for a long time, so I was forced to start growing strawberries. Last year I did not make much profit. This year I have grown strawberries on 2 bighas and so far sold Tk 15 lakh worth."

Munjer Alam Manik, general secretary of the Chapainawabganj Krishi Association, said: "Although there is a bumper strawberry crop, there is no local market system, which is hampering growers' marketing. If there were a local market system as there is for mangoes, we would profit more."

Shibganj upazila agriculture officer Nayon Mia said: "Shibganj upazila alone produces strawberries worth about Tk 70 crore a year, so efforts are being made to export them. If they are exported, the district's economy will be boosted and farmers will benefit."

He said: "Because strawberries bring high profit from a small investment, farmers are very interested. But while they profit from strawberries, there are also risks. If growers cannot reach the market, they may suffer losses."

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