The Crime Desk: With the direct support of the Agricultural Extension Department and the interest of farmers, a silent revolution in Malta cultivation has taken place in various areas of the upazila in Birampur, Dinajpur.
Assistant Director ATM Rezaul Islam, who is engaged in fruit research at the Dinajpur Regional Agriculture Department, recently confirmed this information. He said that this year, Birampur Upazila of Dinajpur district has been selected as an upazila suitable for Malta cultivation. The 60 Malta gardens created in this upazila and the Malta trees planted on the fallow lands of farmers have yielded bumper yields. Seeing the profits of Malta farmers, other farmers are becoming interested in Malta cultivation.
Agriculture Officer of the Birampur Upazila Agriculture Department of the district, Agriculturist Nixon Chandra Pal, started activities five years ago to create interest in cultivating high-value fruits and crops among the farmers of the upazila. Since the soil in this area is suitable for Malta cultivation, he encouraged the farmers to create Malta gardens. At the same time, the Agriculture Department has initiated the establishment of about 30 Malta gardens among farmers in a few years through Malta seedlings and technical assistance. Seeing their success, farmers have created another 30 gardens on their own initiative. In addition, many have cultivated Malta on fallow land and rooftops.
According to the Dinajpur Horticulture Department, although there was no Malta cultivation in the upazila five years ago, currently 60 Malta gardens have been established on about 72 acres of land in the upazila.
Nur Islam Mithu of Patuakol village in Mukundapur union of Birampur upazila said that responding to the call of the Agriculture Department, he had planted 250 Malta trees in the past four years. The seedlings have started bearing fruit two years after planting. Currently, each tree is bearing an average of 60 to 70 kg of Malta. This time, there has been a bumper harvest of Malta in other gardens. Fruit traders from different areas are buying Malta from the gardens at a rate of Tk 3,500 per maund.
Mithu, a malta farmer, said that he expects to earn 10-12 lakh taka from his malta garden this time, excluding maintenance costs.
Agriculture officer and agriculturist Nixon Chandra Pal, a visionary of Malta cultivation in the area, said that Malta cultivation was started by him in Birampur upazila. Currently, farmers are cultivating malta on a large scale. Since the soil in the area is suitable for Malta cultivation, the Malta here is more delicious and is growing in size. Seeing the increased profits and success of the farmers, the farmers are becoming interested in creating new gardens. The Upazila Agriculture Office and field-level Deputy Assistant Agricultural Officers are working intensively to provide overall support to the farmers.
