Hill people find fortune in mango

Sneha started mango plantation on some 1.5 acres of almost fallow land adjoining his courtyard in September in 2003, encouraged by his wife Rama Chakma, 40, and son Parbhan Chakma, 20.

Once poor indigenous farmer of Kukichhara under Panchhari upazila, he now expects an income of around Tk 2 lakh a year from the sale of mango of his orchard.

The horticulture centre of nearby Dighinala upazila extended its helping hands when the poor farmer was facing difficulties in making investment for his dreamt orchard.

The spirit and determination of Sneha Chakma made Mithu Bikash Chakma of Dighinala Horticulture Centre to visit the sight for planned orchard and supplied the intended fruit grower 550 saplings of mango, 100 litchis and 50 olives in 2003.

The farmer left no time to start his struggle for self-reliance and an unyielding work of some 30 months brought him success with all the mango trees of his orchard bearing fruits for the first time this year.

"I expect an income of about Tk 2 lakh from the mango of my orchard this year," Sneha said while talking to this correspondent at his orchard on June 7.

"When all the trees are grown up I will just have to take a good care of them to bring me an equal or more amount of profit every year from now on," he said.

Sneha also thanks and expresses gratitude to Bangladesh Rural Development Corporation (BRDC) for providing him with a power tiller; a power pump, a spray machine and a water pump.

Roma Chakma said she encouraged her husband Sneha to cultivate mango in the fallow land after hearing about its variety and benefit. Roma also expresses gratitude to Horticulture Centre, BRDC, district administration and district agriculture office for their cooperation and inspiration.

Horticulture Officer Mithu Chakma said determination of Sneha made them to come forward with all sort of help and cooperation.

Mizanur Rahman, horticulture officer of Hhagrachhari, said Sneha is a very active, honest and hard working person.

"We are ready to extend him more support for cultivation of mango that has a huge prospect here and thus help them become self-reliant," he said.

The success of Sneha also inspired other farmers of his tribe to cultivate mango and develop over 40 Amrapalli (mango orchards) in the upazila, said Mizan.

The district agriculture and horticulture office sources said around 600 mango orchards have been established in Khagrachhari district in last two years.

If all these orchards are taken care of properly, Khagrachhari will be flooded with mangoes and turn into another Chapainawabganj, they said.