Strawberries by the sea in Cox's Bazar

A burgeoning industry elsewhere, strawberry cultivation is relatively new to the coastal strip south of Cox's Bazar town. Last year farmer Hasmat Ali, 34, of Borochara village at Daria Nagar sowed his first crop. Now in his second harvest season, he remains the only strawberry farmer in the area.

"I never ate a strawberry before growing them," he says, describing the flavour as sweet-sour. Indeed he'd barely seen one. Encouraged by Chittagong-based NGO, Community Development Centre, as part of a climate adaptation project, Ali's training included an exposure visit to strawberry fields in Chakaria in the north of the district.

"It's easier than paddy," Ali says, though there is field preparation work prior to planting, in weeding and taking care of runners in the off-season. The field is also netted to protect the strawberries from birds.

Ali currently rents a modest ten decimals of land at 3,000 taka per season for the crop.

From a farming family but with no land of his own, the father-of-three has attracted the interest of neighbours. "They're curious," he says, "They think it's a good business and are especially interested after eating one. Not everybody has tried strawberries."

The local difficulty is finding suitable land, which has thus far prevented others from following Ali's lead.

Ali's strawberries bear fruit after about 45 days and the season lasts for two and a half months from mid-February. During this time he is able to harvest 7-8 kg daily which he normally sells at around 800 taka per kilo.

But this year prices are nearly half that due to the low numbers of tourists reaching Cox's Bazar because of transport safety issues.

Still, in the long term Ali's crop has the advantage of numerous nearby restaurants, in both Cox's Bazar and Himchori, as well as the passing tourist trade.

"I'll keep at it," he says, confident strawberries can play a role in his family's livelihood.