Photo : BSS

By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, March 12, 2025 (BSS) - The cultivation of citrus fruits has significantly increased here in the district, driven by local market demand. With revenue surpassing annual expenses, many farmers are now shifting towards large-scale citrus fruit farming.

The industry has opened up new employment in the northern district. A large number of farmers have transitioned from traditional paddy farming to citrus fruit cultivation. It has impacted on the region's economic landscape.

Monirul Momin, a 46-year-old returnee migrant from South Korea, has become a successful entrepreneur by venturing into citrus fruit farming in Rajshahi.

Momin, a resident of Benipur village in Godagari upazila, has transformed approximately 45 bighas of leased land and three bighas of his own land into thriving orchards.

He currently grows 2,500 lemon and 3,100 jujube trees as inter-crops, along with 1,500 additional high-yielding jujube trees. All of these trees are bearing fruit at this time. Momin has also expanded his farming to include 25 bighas of China lemon, six bighas of China and Darjeeling oranges, six bighas of BARI Malta-1, and six bighas of guava.

During his time in South Korea, Momin learned about modern farming techniques, including how to cultivate new fruit varieties using advanced agricultural practices. He was recognized by the South Korean government with the Employment Permit System (EPS) award for his excellence in areas such as discipline, language skills, remittances, and social work.

Since returning to Bangladesh, Momin has remained active in farming, alongside cultivating various seasonal vegetables, and has gained recognition as a potential fruit farmer in the region. His success has sparked a surge in fruit orchards across his village, with many locals now growing citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, malta, guava, mangoes, and other vegetables.

Talking to BSS, Atanu Sarker, Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer, said local farmers have embraced balanced and organic fertilization, the use of organic pesticides, and innovative pest management techniques like sex-pheromone traps and yellow traps, all contributing to safer fruit production. The use of minimal chemical fertilizers further ensures the health of the produce.

Another returnee migrant, Kawsar Ali, has also found success in citrus fruit farming. Ali, who developed a malta orchard on one acre of land in Godagari, has already harvested and sold malta and lemon worth approximately Taka 2.5 lakh this season. After returning from abroad, Ali was uncertain about his future but became inspired to start farming after seeing the success of others in the area, he told BSS on Tuesday.

He learned that growing lemons and malta could be highly profitable due to local market demand, despite the fact that these fruits take up to three years to yield a harvest.

In addition to citrus fruits, Ali grows various vegetables, including bananas, grapes, sweet pumpkins, onions, garlic, and peppers. He regularly consults local agricultural extension services, which have been instrumental in guiding him and other farmers in commercial citrus cultivation, helping to boost local economic activities.

Similarly, Matiur Rahman, a farmer from Amnura, has replaced traditional paddy cultivation with orange farming on five bighas of land. He now harvests and sells oranges and other fruits, seeing positive returns year after year.

Iftekhar Munna, from Bashantapur village, switched to orange and lemon farming five years ago after facing irrigation issues for paddy cultivation. This year, he earned Taka 17,500 from his harvest and estimates that one bigha of land can yield up to Taka 25,000, with minimal annual expenses.

The cultivation of citrus fruits like malta, lemon, orange, jujube, and batabi lime has grown significantly in Rajshahi, including the Barind tract. The rising popularity of these crops among farmers is expected to revolutionize the rural economy. As the demand for these fruits continues to grow, the future of citrus farming in the region looks promising.

Umme Salma, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension, emphasized the importance of citrus farming for the region's economy. She noted that the increasing interest in citrus cultivation, alongside its growing demand, will play a key role in supporting the local agricultural sector and the livelihoods of farmers.