A farmer taking care of malta trees in his orchard at Jagdal village in Magura district — FE Photo MAGURA, Nov 06: Malta cultivation is turning the fortune wheel of Magura farmers for lucrative profits.
Official sources said malta farming is increasing in the district on a large scale every year.
Both weather and soil are suitable for malta farming in the district.
Farmer Obaidul of Shibrampur village under Magura Sadar upazila said, "This year I have brought 02 acres and 50 decimals of land into malta cultivation. Already I sold malta for Tk 0.4 million (4 lakh)."
"At first, I sold malta for about Tk 0.1 million (1 lakh) in 2023. Every year I expand my malta cultivation. Finally, this year I expect to get Tk 0.9 million (9 lakh)."
When contacted, Waliar Rahman of village Jagdal under Magura Sadar upazila said, "I had a great passion to farming. With the help of horticulture expert Dr Moniruzzman I started malta farming on my land."
"I collected Bari-1 seedlings from a nursery of Jhumjhumpur area in Jashore and started its cultivation on 160 decimals of land in 2017. Finally, my persistence and endeavour have returned fruitfully in 2023. This year, I witness 1,000 maunds of malta in my orchard."
"I have already sold malta at Tk 1.5 million (15 lakh) and I expect Tk 0.5 million (5 lakh) more by selling the fruit," Mr Rahman said.
Salam Biswas of village Shaitrish under Magura Sadar upazila said, "I started malta cultivation 8 years back on my 30 decimals of land. Now, I cultivate malta on about 200 decimals of land."
"I have already sold malta for Tk 0.8 million (8 lakh). I started malta cultivation eight years back just as a hobby. But, now my hobby has turned into a lucrative earning source."
"I have provided employment to 10 youths for my malta cultivation. I think malta cultivation can be a unique source for self-employment for educated youths."
Horticulture expert Dr Moniruzzman said, "We are proud that malta farmers have brought success in Magura. Sandy loaf soil is congenial for malta production."
When asked, Magura DAE Deputy Director Dr Md Yashin Ali said that day by day malta cultivation is increasing in the country.
At present, production of malta in the country is 35,000 tonnes in the country while its demand is 0.2 million (2 lakh) tonnes.
Public health specialist Dr Abdullahel Kafi, associated professor of Magura medical college, said malta helps to develop immunity in human body.
The fruit can remove malnutrition as it contains high nutrition. Malta has a specialty as diabetic pati-ents can take this.
Malta develops almost no sugar in the bodies of diabetic patients as the fruit is enriched with vitamin C.
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