Papaya farming gains popularity in Bangladesh

Cultivation of papaya has gained immense popularity among the farmers of the district from the last few years. It has important sources of income generation leading to economic self-reliance in the area.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources said hybrid variety papaya has become popular in the district since 2007 with the assistances of local agriculture officials. Many people especially the unemployed educated youth take training on papaya farming and cultivate it on the high fallow land where water does not stay, source added.

The fruit has more nutrition properties than that of common fruits. Price of this popular fruit remains unusually high in the local wholesale market. Presently, a maund of papaya is being sold at Tk 2000 to Tk 2500 in different kitchen markets of the district. A good number poor and marginal farmer mainly the reddish high lands of Dhunot, Shibgonj, Khaloo, Dupchanchia, Adamdighi, Sherpur, Shonatola and Sadar upazilas have been able to change their fate through cultivating the fruit.

They have also brought socio-economic change by using ultra-modern technology on papaya croplands. Recently they have also farmed the most lucrative papaya fruit in their homestead garden due to its economic aspect. Some 550 to 600 saplings can be planted on per bigha of land which produces an average of 500 to 600 maunds of papaya per year.

Source: Thefinancialexpress-bd.com