Borhanuddin (Bhola) Correspondent :
Plum is not cultivated commercially in Bhola district. One or two sour or sweet varieties of plum trees can be seen in every house of the district. Fruit traders meet the demand by bringing plums from Dhaka. However, for the first time this season, Mainuddin Hawladar Mofiz gets success by cultivating plum commercially. Seeing his garden, many people are interested in plum cultivation.
Mofiz has planted a plum garden on 4 and a half acres of land in Ward No. 2 of Kachia Union, about 5 km away from the Upazila Sadar. The trees are four to four and a half feet high. If you see a red plum like apple full of trees, it will catch anyone’s eye. People from different areas including locals are coming to see his plum garden.
Mofiz has cultivated mostly Balsundari varieties of plums in his garden. Besides, Kashmiri variety plum has also been cultivated experimentally. He has collected plum saplings from Natore. Flowers come within 22-23 months of planting. Now collecting and selling fruits. This plum is beautiful to look at, delicious to eat. There is a lot of demand in the market. So far he has sold plums worth 2.5 lakh taka. Mofiz said that it will be sold for Tk 22-23 lakh by 30th Falgun. 40 kg is selling plums in the local market for 2,400 taka.
In his studies, Mofiz could not cross the boundaries of SSC. As a father of a 2 -year old daughter. Mofiz said he wanted to do something new. A love for agricultural work has been born. Beside plum orchards, his investment in Thai guava, malta orchards and vegetable orchards is around Tk 2 cr . With this amount of money he could do the desired business. But his mind is not drawn there. There has been some family crisis. But he geta pleasure in this work. Mofiz further said, two years ago he moved to Natore district of North Bengal Let’s go. Knowing everything, he brought Balsundari varieties of plum saplings from Natore.
The characteristic of this plum is that it looks like an apple. Adequately nutritious. Besides, the seeds of this variety of plum are very small. Large garden land leased.
The total cost is Tk 10-11 lakh . Both chemical and organic fertilizers have been applied in the field. Insect attacks have decreased this year. However, birds and monkeys eat plums worth Tk one lakhs.
The cost has been a bit high since the first season this year. The cost will be lower next year. Because he don’t have to buy plum seedlings. Irrigation and other infrastructure costs are no more.
According to Mofiz, if we work with proper planning in agriculture, there will be no loss. His dream is to farm as well as a modern farm of cows, goats and sheep.
However, it is difficult to implement without government support. Upazila Agriculture Officer in this regard Omar Faruq said that the Agriculture Office has provided maximum assistance to Mofiz. In addition to providing him with organic and chemical fertilizers, a deep irrigation system has been installed in the plum fields for irrigation.
He added that Mofiz’s work is a unique example for unemployed youth. If the attention of the Upazila Executive Officer Saifur Rahman said, “Entrepreneurs like Mofiz are being cooperated as much as possible.” It will continue in the future.
