The farming of Malta, a juicy citrus fruit enriched with vitamin C, is gaining popularity among farmers in Shibpur and Belabo upazilas of Narsingdi.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials encouraged farmers and given them training for cultivating Multa from 2011 as the climate and soil of the region are suitable for cultivation of the fruit.
Deputy Director (DD) of Department of Agriculture Extension of Narsingdi Shovan Kumar Dhar said after getting successful result in experimental basis a number of farmers specially educated youths in Shibpur and Belabo upazilas of the district have started farming of Bari Multa in their homestead garden and other fallow lands collecting 15000 plants from Joyanta pur of Sylhet district through the DAE.
He said farming of BARI Multa is more profitable then other fruits. The fruit is delicious and contains huge vitamin-c. Farmers during the last nine years raised huge number of orchards in the two upazilas of the district and they are making a good profit from it.
BSS correspondent recently visited Shibpur and Belabo upazilas of the district found that farmers of every villages in two upazilas cultivated BARI Multa in their homestead garden and other high lands.
While visiting the orchards at Monsafar char village of Shibpur Upazila, Jahangir Alam the owner of the orchard said he started Bari Multa cultivating on 10 deceimals lands in 2011.
Getting good result he then extended the orchard more 20 decimals lands and planting 200 saplings. The plants growing well.
During the last three years, he got an excellent result from his garden. Jahangir said, he harvested over 25000 Malta last season from his garden, which he sold about Taka 5,00,000. Jahangir said farming of Malta is more profitable then other crops. Farmer shown more interest in growing Malta on the large scale.
During the last 10 years, they raised a number of orchards in the district and they are at present harvesting huge quantity of Malta.
The deputy director of the DAE said, farmers during the last 10 years cultivated Multa on 60 hectares of land in Shibpur and Belabo upazilas of the district, reports BSS.