Malta trees stand planted in neat rows, a sight to please anyone. In the middle of the orchard is a wheat field, and alongside it gourd, onion, beans and other crops, 11 kinds in all. By growing 11 crops on the same land, farmer Amirul Islam has caused a stir across his area.

Amirul Islam lives in the Barghoria area of Ranisankail upazila in Thakurgaon. He planted the malta orchard on his own land two years ago, and the trees have now started to bear fruit.

Rather than leave the gaps in the orchard empty, Amirul has grown different crops on the same land and made a profit. Everyone in the area praises his success.

"I set up the malta orchard three years ago under the Department of Agricultural Extension," Amirul Islam said. "The orchard is on three bighas of land. In the empty spaces I have grown 11 crops, including wheat, potato, beans, gourd, onion and chilli. Growing so many crops together has brought me good profits. Now I am thinking of expanding the orchard."

Anwar Hossain, sub-assistant agriculture officer at the Ranisankail agriculture office, said he had advised Amirul Islam to plant the malta orchard. "After planting it he grew 11 companion crops together and made a good profit. Our agriculture office has given him every kind of support."

Ranisankail upazila agriculture officer, agriculturist Sanjoy Debnath, said they had given Amirul Islam 120 saplings for the orchard under a project on the expansion and management of citrus crops. "Two years passed without fruit, so rather than leave the land idle he grew companion crops," he said.

"He now grows 11 crops on the same land. We are trying to see whether this can be raised from 11 to 15 crops. We believe this will increase food production on one hand and, on the other, carry out the Prime Minister's directive that no land should be left fallow."

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