Malta farming has brought solace and happiness to an enterprising entrepreneur who started cultivating the fruit at his village Mujgummi in Manirampur upazila of Jessore in 2014.

Abdul Karim told this correspondent that he went to Singapore in 1997, but he was cheated by the broker and incurred a loss of Tk 3 lakh. Being disheartened, he came back to Bangladesh. Later, he met Manirampur Upazila Agriculture Officer Dr Mrityunjoy and took an initiative to cultivate malta as per his advice.

At first, Karim planted 100 plants of Bari-malta-01on 30 decimals of land at a cost of Tk 50,000 in November, 2014. He gave the fruit to relatives and villagers. Later, he planted 45 more plants on 15 decimals of land in 2015. He started harvesting the fruit after one and a half years. He has sold maltas worth Tk 40,000 to Tk 45,000 since September 20. Now, each plant bears around 170 maltas, which he sells for Tk 140 per kg.

He said he will sell maltas worth Tk 1.20 lakh during this season if the weather remains favourable, and will get profit of around Tk 65 thousand, adding that he will harvest the fruit up to November.

He has prepared 5,000 grafts and sells them for Tk 100 to Tk120 per piece. He sells grafts worth Tk 4,000 to Tk 5,000 per day during the rainy season. He uses vermi compost fertiliser and bio-pesticide on his plot instead of chemical fertilizers or insecticides. 

“I have purchased 175 grafts from Karim. This species of malta is very delicious and tasty,” said Humayun Kabir of Keshobpur upazila.

“I have purchased 425 grafts from Karim. Neighbouring farmers are thronging his farm to have a look at it,” said Aktaruzzaman of Helatala village in Kularua upazila. 

Senior Scientific Officer of Agriculture Research Institute Khulna Dr Prashanta Kumar Sarkar said malta farming is profitable in the country. Abdul Karim is one of the big malta farmers in Khulna division and it will bring about a revolutionary change in the economy of the country if they are helped and trained.