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RANGPUR, Oct 17: Commercial cultivation of malta has ushered in a new hope to the growers of different areas in the district in recent years.
According to agriculturists the soil and climate of the region are suitable for farming malta and good quality of the appetising fruit can easily be grown in many areas of the region.
This popular variety of fruit can be cultivated in both orchards and homesteads. It does not require fertile land and its production cost is also lower than that of other fruits, growers said.
Presently, BARI-1 variety malta is being cultivated in the region.
Around 50 malta orchards have so far been set up in the district and growers are optimistic of making good profit from the sale of their produces, sources said.
Usually, BARI-1 malta plants get replete with flowers during the months of March to April and its harvest begins between September to October, sources said.
Farmer Mamunur Rashid of Parghat village in Ranipukur union under Mithapukur upazila said he has been cultivating the citrus fruit at his orchard for the last few years.
He said that he grows Malta plants through grafting system. Presently, there are 130 malta trees of BARI-1 variety at his orchard and the trees are full of fruits now.
He is expecting to earn Tk 1,50,000 to Tk 2,00,000 from the sale of the fruit this season, Mamunur further said.
Officials from different agricultural departments as well as curious people from many areas under the district and its adjacent areas visit his Malta orchard often, he also said.
If they get necessary assistance and advices from DAE on how to combat adverse circumstances like pest attack and diseases, its production can certainly be enhanced, he added.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources due to good profit and huge demand farming of malta is gradually increasing in different areas under the district and its adjacent districts in recent times.
The country is spending huge foreign exchange every year for importing malta from abroad. But a large quantity of the fruit can easily be grown in Rangpur as well as its adjacent areas, if government patronisation is available.
This would also play significant role in improving the socio-economic condition of the poverty-stricken people of the northern region, experts opined.