Papaya farming gains popularity among growers

NILPHAMARI, Sept 10: Papaya cultivation is gaining popularity among the farmers in the district.

A good number of people are growing it on commercial basis and making a good profit every season.

DAE official sources said one papaya tree can produce one maund (40 kg) of papaya round the year.

Sources said there are more than 500 papaya orchards in all the 60 union councils under six upazilas of the district.

Many grassroots people have attained financial solvency by growing the fruit at their homesteads, sources added.

Aminul Islam, a day labourer of Itakhola union under Sadar upazila, said he planted 10 papaya saplings last year at his homestead. This year he started harvesting the fruits.

He said he expects to earn Tk 10,000.

Green papayas are being sold at Tk 30 per kg in the local markets whereas the ripe ones at Tk 100 per kg.

Farmer Aminur Rahman of Itakhola union said if 500 papaya saplings can be planted in a bigha (30 decimal) of land, Tk 0.1 million may be earned.

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