Kashmiri apple jujube production has got success for the first time in Shariatpur. Awlad Hossain, a farmer is the pioneer in this regard.
He said although apple jujube was cultivated earlier in the area, he got a bumper yield by cultivating the new variety of jujube.
Awlad said Kashmiri apple jujube looks like a small apple. It is full of nutrition and rich in flavour. There is a lot of demand for the tasty fruit in the market. High demand and good market price have brought smile on the face of the farmer.
Shariatpur Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and local sources said Kashmiri apple jujube cultivation was brought to the country in 2017. Grower Awlad from Swarnaghosh village in Shariatpur municipal area, brought this kind of saplings to Shariatpur in 2018 from a nursery in Chuadanga.
In March, 2018, he planted 150 Kashmiri apple jujube saplings on 30 decimals of land. The plants have been producing fruits since January this year. Each of the plants has a yield of 50 kg to 60 kg. No other farmer has ever done such a garden in Shariatpur before, DAE office sources said.
Awlad Hossain Fakir said, "I have decided to cultivate the Kashmiri apple jujube after watching an agricultural report on YouTube. Then I collected 150 Kashmiri apple jujube saplings from a nursery in Chuadanga and planted those on 30 decimals of land. Within 10 months the yield comes."
The peasants further said, "The fruit is tasty. I spent around Tk 50,000 for the orchard. I hope I can earn Tk 0.1 million from the sale of my produce."
It is possible to produce a bumper output of Kashmiri apple jujube in the Shariatpur land as the soil is suitable for the crop. "Anyone can easily cultivate it and become self-sufficient", Awal added.
