FruitsImported malta sells for Tk 400-420 a kilo and green apples for Tk 400-450 in Mirpur, against Tk 120 for local malta; sellers blame size, quality and spoilage, and the commerce minister says work is under way to cut a 121 per cent effective duty.
FruitsNasir Howlader of Porgolla started BARI Malta-1 on one bigha and expanded to 16; he sold about Tk 1.6 million worth last year, though heavy rain has knocked off some fruit this season.
FruitsAlamin, an educated young man from Bajitpur in Mirpur, Kushtia, has planted about 170 malta and orange trees after his plan to work abroad fell through; officials visited and advised him.
FruitsA Tariff Commission report finds malta selling at Tk 520-550 a kilo in Dhaka against a top price of Tk 160 in India and Tk 130 in Pakistan, blaming 96-122 percent duties, inflated customs valuation and a market held by a few importers.
FruitsCommerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir asked importers to open letters of credit quickly to bring in more fruit, and said a decision on the duty on dates would come this week.
GalleryWith dengue patients' families buying malta, imported malta sells for Tk 480 to Tk 500 and local malta for Tk 120 to Tk 130 in Chattogram's retail markets; a photo story from the fruit shops of Kadamtali, Station Road and New Market.
FruitsBARI Malta-1 is grown on 60 to 70 hectares in Rangamati Sadar, Naniarchar, Kawkhali and Baghaichhari; yields reach 12 tonnes a hectare and hill malta now goes to Dhaka and Chattogram.
Sharmin Khatun of Hoglabaria village in Chatmohar, Pabna, planted Vietnamese and BARI-1 malta on two bighas of leased fallow land; after a profit of more than Tk 2 lakh last year she expects at least Tk 4 lakh after all costs this season.
Advised by the agriculture office, Rony Mitra and partners planted BARI-3 and Vietnamese malta on one acre of abandoned coal heaps in Netrokona in 2021; about Tk 10 lakh invested, Tk 3.5 lakh of fruit sold last year and double expected now, with wholesalers paying Tk 80-100 a kilogram at the orchard
CropsIn June 2026, Department of Agricultural Extension data showed about 34 kinds of foreign fruit grown in Bangladesh, a dozen of them commercially successful. Dragon fruit and malta led, and home-grown dragon fruit had been exported to Sweden.
CropsA Jhenaidah farmer alleges that an army member cut down 150 fruit-bearing malta and guava trees on land he had leased for five years; the accused says the land is his.
Rajshahi University student Md Faraduzzaman Fahim, who started a malta orchard in Domar during the pandemic, expects to sell Tk 10 lakh worth of fruit this season.
More than 300 farmers across Cumilla now grow green malta, selling fresh fruit to local buyers.
