<i>Orange becoming a cash crop for Thakurgaon, Panchagarh farmers</i>
Photo: STAR
Commercial cultivation of orange gains popularity among the farmers of Thakurgaon and Panchagarh as its cultivation proves more profitable than many other traditional crops. Around 30 tonnes of orange have been produced in the two northern districts this season while several hundred people are also planting orange trees around their homes, local agriculture officials and farmers said. They said at least 600 orange trees have started bearing fruits in the two districts. Around 74 hectares of land have so far been brought under orange cultivation in Thakurgaon while 104 hectares in Panchagarh, they added. The popular fruit has the potential to become a cash crop for farmers in the districts, according to horticulturists of Orange Orchard Development Project. While talking to This correspondent, Kanailal Barman, 45, an orange grower of Dakkhin Bathina village under Sadar upazila in Thakurgaon, said he has already sold 4,000 oranges from his orchard this season at the rate of Tk 800 per hundred. He said taste and size of orange produced in his orchard are similar to the imported one. Kanailal said he planted 50 orange saplings on 5.5 decimal of land in front of his house in 2002. Of them, 43 trees grew well but failed to bear fruits even after four years, he said. "I later went to the office of Orange Orchard Development Project and sought advice from the concerned officials. According to their advice, I have taken care of the trees. Now 22 trees bear fruits," said Kanailal. He said many people of his village have started cultivation of orange as a cash crop after seeing his orange orchard. An orange tree usually starts bearing fruits within 3 to 4 years. So the farmers can get fruits in a short period of time. About Tk 11,000 is needed for developing an orange orchard on a bigha of land, officials said. Lutfar Rahaman, another orange grower of Shenihari village in Sadar upazila of Thakurgaon, said he planted some orange trees in front of his house seven years ago. Of them, a tree bears around 1,000 fruits this season and he sold those fruits at a local market at the rate of Tk 10 per piece. The Horticulture Department, district agriculture department and Orange Orchard Development Board have taken steps to help orange farming flourish in the two districts. About 2,652 hectares of land in Thakurgaon and 1,450 hectares in Panchagarh are ideal for orange cultivation, officials of Orange Orchard Development Project (ODP) said. In Thakurgaon, 3,360 people were provided with necessary training on orange cultivation while 40,000 saplings were distributed among the farmers. In Pancahgarh, ODA has provided training for 4200 people while 50,000 orange saplings have been distributed among the farmers. Md Mizanur Rahaman, horticulture development officer of Thakurgaon ODP, said drip irrigation is needed to grow the plants properly and develop good quality of fruits. Dr Bimol Kumar Pramanik, assistant horticulture development officer, said cold weather is good for producing good quality of orange and temperature should be between 13 and 38 degrees Celsius.
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