Jujube growers all smile

Over 1,000 growers of jujube, a small fruit known locally as boroi, are happy at getting bumper production and much higher prices in the district this year compared to last year.

One kg of jujube is being sold at Tk 35 to Tk 40 in the retail market, but they sell it at Tk 25 to Tk 30 to the middlemen, while they got Tk 15 to Tk 17 per kg last year, growers said.

Deputy Director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Lalmonirhat Bidubhushon Roy said there are about 550 jujube orchards on 2,200 bighas of land in five upazilas of the district, while there were orchards on only 200 bighas a few years ago. Farmers have become interested in growing jujube because they get good profit, the DD added.

Amjad Hossain, 50, of Megharam village in Sadar upazila said he and two other farmers prepared a jujube orchard on 12 bighas of land five years ago. “We were interested in farming jujube as we got good prices for the fruit over the last few years,” he said, adding that they are happy getting expected profit, though they suffered huge loss last year.

Rafique Miah, 45, a jujube grower from Khorarpul village in the upazila, said he spent Tk 15 to Tk 18 for producing one kg due to increases in labour cost and price of pesticides. “I got Tk 67,000 from from my two bighas of land by spending Tk 35,000, while I got only Tk 30,000 last year,” he added.

Mizanur Rahman, 55, of Kakina village in Kaliganj upazila said he prepared two orchards on 10 bighas. “I have already sold jujube worth Tk 2 lakh and I am hoping to get Tk 2 lakh more from selling the rest of the fruit in my orchard. I spent Tk 1,90,000 on production,” he added.

Fruit trader Arshad Hossain, 38, of Mogholhat Gate in Lalmonirhat town said growers are earning good profit due to high demand this year. “We are sending large quantities of jujubes to Dhaka and other parts of the country, though there was a slump in sales last year,” he added.

Bidubhushon said agriculture officials provide technical support and advice to farmers. Jujube growers are happy at getting bumper production and good prices this year, he added.