Nearly 40pc of country's papaya now produced in Singair

MANIKGANJ, Dec 15: Papaya cultivation in Singair Upazila of Manikganj district is increasingly being carried out on a commercial scale. With quick yields, long-term production and a guaranteed market, papaya has emerged as one of the most profitable crops for local farmers. After meeting local demand, papaya produced in Singair is supplied to the capital Dhaka and major wholesale markets across the country.

According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, nearly 40 per cent of the country's total papaya production now comes from Singair alone. In the current season, the estimated market value of papaya traded from the upazila is between Tk 6.0 billion and Tk 6.5 billion, making Singair one of the largest papaya-producing regions in the country.

Papaya is now cultivated year-round as a commercial crop in the area. Alongside carrots, maize and other vegetables, it is widely grown as an intercrop. This year, papaya has been cultivated on around 850 hectares of land in the upazila, which is about 100 hectares more than last year.

Farmers said that once saplings are planted, papaya continues to yield fruit for up to three years. Production costs per bigha range from Tk 35,000 to Tk 40,000, while net profits can reach Tk 50,000 to Tk 60,000. Due to lower risk and relatively assured returns, an increasing number of farmers are turning to papaya cultivation.

Abul Hossain Babul, a farmer from Char Azimpur village in Singair, said, "This year I cultivated papaya on 14 bighas of land. I invested around Tk 600,000 and have already sold papaya worth Tk 1.2 million. The soil and climate of our area are very suitable for carrot cultivation, so we grow papaya as an intercrop with carrots. After harvesting carrots, we also cultivate sweet pumpkin, local gourd and coriander alongside papaya."

Another papaya farmer from the same village, Shamsul Haque, said, "Along with carrots, papaya cultivation has become very popular in our area. Due to favourable weather, production has been very good this year. However, prices are lower than last season. Still, because of the good quality of our papaya, wholesalers buy directly from the fields."

Due to comparatively higher land, papayas grown in Singair are larger in size and superior in quality. As harvesting begins within four to five months of planting and production costs remain low, around 2,500 farmers are now involved in papaya cultivation in the upazila. With rising production, 12 to 13 papaya trading hubs have developed in Singair.

Every day, truckloads of papaya are sent to markets in Dhaka, Ashulia, Baipail, Savar, Gazipur, Noakhali, Chattogram and Feni. A complete supply chain has developed around this crop, creating stable employment for farmers, traders, transport workers and wholesalers, and contributing significantly to the local economy.

Karwan Bazar wholesaler Bashir Reza said, "Papaya from Singair is large in size and good in quality, which creates strong demand in the market. Since Singair is close to Dhaka, transportation is also convenient. I take one truck of papaya every day."

Local wholesaler Anwar Mollah said, "This year prices are slightly lower due to higher production, but overall trading volume has increased. I transport two truckloads of papaya daily to Savar, Baipail and Ashulia. It is now hard to imagine Dhaka's markets without papaya from Singair."

Singair Upazila Agriculture Officer Md Habibul Bashar Chowdhury said, "Singair is known as the kitchen house of Dhaka. About 40 per cent of the country's papaya is produced here, and cultivation is increasing every year. This season alone, papaya worth Tk 6.0 to Tk 6.5 billion is expected to be traded from Singair. Profitable papaya farming is not only increasing farmers' incomes but also ensuring a sustainable flow in the local economy."

Papaya cultivation in Singair is no longer just farming-it has become a full-fledged agriculture-based business. Agricultural experts believe that with improved storage facilities, processing initiatives and export-oriented planning, income from this sector could increase several times over.

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