Although it is full of seeds, its name is Bedana (Seedless) or Pomegranate. The demand for Pomegranate in the country remains at its peak throughout the year as a patient's diet and as a sweet, vitamin-enriched, nutritious fruit.
There is no commercial cultivation of Pomegranate in Bangladesh and the country's billion-Taka market for this fruit is controlled entirely by neighboring India. However, a recent successful commercial cultivation of the fruit by two agriculture entrepreneurs in the Charghat area of Rajshahi has indicated that this potential fruit can now be cultivated throughout the country.
Agricultural entrepreneur couple Shibli Sadiq and Tabassum Tasnim have cultivated Pomegranate on flat land in Holidagachhi village of Charghat upazila. Due to the success of their Pomegranate cultivation, people come from various places including neighboring upazilas to see and buy Pomegranate seedlings every day.
Shibli Sadiq is a businessman by profession and Tabassum Tasnim is a housewife. Along with their work, the couple has set an example of success in Rajshahi district by cultivating Pomegranate with intense compassion. Which is inspiring hundreds of people in the area. On-site inspection, it is seen that ripened red, pink and pale colored Pomegranates are hanging from rows of trees. Again, some trees are blooming, while others are transforming from flowers to fruits. People are flocking to see such a scene in the Pomegranate garden next to the agricultural couple's house.
It is known that Shibli brought a tree sapling with him while traveling to India in 2018. The husband and wife planted the sapling in the yard of their house. When the tree grew, they made 15 cuttings from it after two years. They planted those 15 trees next to their house.
After two years, they gradually made 300 grafts from 15 trees. They planted those trees on two bighas of land 15 months ago. Six months later, 160 trees started bearing fruit. After ripening of the fruit, they collected an average of four kilograms of Pomegranate from each tree in the last nine months and sold them in the market.
In addition, instead of pruning the excess parts of the tree, they are making grafts or 'Kalam' from them and selling them at a rate of Taka 350 each. The couple has earned about Taka 300,000 in the last nine months by selling the Grafts of the Bedana trees only.
Young entrepreneur Shibli Sadiq said, "After completing my Diploma in Electronics at the Polytechnic Institute, I couldn't find a job. I started a small business. I brought Pomegranate seedlings from India and got good results from 15 trees. On the advice of my wife, I thought of expanding the garden. I cleared two bighas of land next to my house and spent about Taka 50,000 and planted 300 seedlings in stages."
The fruits have started coming six months after planting the seedlings. There is a lot of demand for Pomegranate in the market, and the prices are good. I am selling them at a price of Taka 350-450 per kg. This year, I will get four kgs of fruit per tree, but next season, I will get more than ten kgs. I hope to sell Pomegranate worth at least one million Taka.
Tabassum Tasnim said, "Our Pomegranate garden is next to our house. The entire garden is under CCTV camera surveillance. I used to help my father in agricultural work since I was a child. Now, after household chores, I spend extra time in the Pomegranate garden. I take care of the garden with the workers."
We have to apply fungicide to the trees every week. Apart from that, there are not many diseases. People come from far and wide and praise our Bedana. Then it seems that our hard work has been fruitful with the efforts of both of us. We will plant Bedana orchards on five more bighas of land, and the work of preparing the land is underway.
Local resident and teacher Jahangir Hossain said, "It is surprising that Pomegranate are being cultivated in the country. Every tree in the Pomegranate garden has borne fruit, and it is very delicious to eat. People from different areas are coming to see the Pomegranate garden of Shibli and Tasnim, which is also a matter of pride for our village."
Charghat Upazila Agriculture Officer Al Mamun Hasan said, Shibli and Tasnim have established the Pomegranate garden on their own initiative and with their dedicated efforts.
We are constantly checking on their garden and giving all kinds of advice. Since the Pomegranate are of the perennial variety, they would be able to sell the fruits all year round. Seeing their success, other agricultural entrepreneurs in the area are also being interested in cultivating this exotic fruit.
