Biplab dreams of huge profit from malta cultivation

BENAPOLE, Sept 25: A farmer named Biplab Hossain dreams of making a huge profit by cultivating malta in Chougachha upazila of Jashore district.

He also grows dragon, guava, oranges and Chinese lemon to make huge money every year by cultivating these fruits.

According to upazila agriculture office sources, 28 hectares of land have been cultivated into fruit cultivation in this upazila.

Malta's production target has been set at 980 tonnes.

This year malta cultivation has increased a lot in the upazila by providing support under various projects.

If properly cared for, the seedlings begin to bear fruit within two years of planting.

Fertilisers and pesticides are relatively less needed for malta cultivation.

There is no insect attack the fruits field. Due to which the farmers are benefiting from the cultivation of fruits.

Biplab Hossain is a government beneficiary fruit grower. Visiting his malta garden in the western field of Isapur village, one can see that every tree has got a lot of malta.

Farmer Biplab Hossain's hope of fulfilling his dream is swinging with the malta of the tree.

It can be seen that Malta's trees are about to collapse under the weight of fruit. Bamboo poles are provided to prevent the Malta tree from falling. Along with farmer Biplab, family members also help maintain work. There are many malta fruit swinging in the trees throughout the garden.

Malta has caught more this year than other years. He expects to profit if all goes well.

Biplab, son of late Taiyab Ali of Isapur village of the upazila, said that in the beginning of 2020, he took about one and a half bigha of land and started cultivating malta.

He planted 130 malta saplings on one and a half bigha land.

He is serving with the hope that malta will benefit from farming.

Biplab has planted lemon trees on the four sides of his orchard as a fence.

Along the side of the fence, they have planted potato, shrimp, radish and beans.

He has planted turmeric, papaya, puishak, red vegetables, Brinjal etc. in the gap between fruit trees as companion crops.

He said that besides fruit cultivation, all these fellows earn a lot of money from crops.

Malta farmer Biplab said in the local market, malta is being sold at Tk 80 to Tk 90 per kg.

Malta worth Tk 10,000 has already been sold from my garden. "This time we expect to get about 3500 to 4000 kg of malta."

Upazila Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officer Saiful Islam said that under the supervision of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), malta garden inspection and advice are provided regularly.

Chowgacha Upazila Agriculture Officer Musabbir Hussain said that cultivation of various types of fruits, including malta, is increasing day by day here.

He also said that farmers are now being assisted by the government in fruit cultivation along with training.

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