Jabalul Bashar alias Selim Biswas, owner of ‘Jahanara Agro Farm’, began different fruits and vegetables cultivation on 10 bighas of land at village Gaidghat in Chuadanga sadar upazila last year. Some of the trees of the farm, particularly the mango trees, bear fruit throughout the year.
The agro farm has already changed the lifestyle of some people of the village.
There are fruit plants and vegetables in the farm. The fruit plants are katimon mango (locally called thai baro masi aam), guava and dragon. About 1000 plants of mango, 1000 plants of guava and 1116 plants of dragon are in the farm. On the other hand tomato, palk, leaf of gram (so called sular shak), carrot, pea-pod, radish, brinjal, green pepper, potato, onion, garlic are cultivated as vegetables and spices.
It is learnt, modern technologies are being used for cultivation fruits and vegetables. Planting mango trees a few days after it became blossom and bear mangoes. The height of the mango trees is 6 feet. Plants of guava are the same.
According to sources, Selim Biswas is inspired to set up agriculture farm by his father Wasif Azim Mirza, under the supervision of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and development the village through agro at the call of present government. He expects that many unemployed youths will get jobs at the farm.
A labor of the farm Chand Ali said I have experience in mango and vegetables cultivation for 15 years as the owner of the farm have given me job in the farm.
The correspondent of Bangladesh Post visited the farm and saw that 10 labors including a woman were working at the farm. They took care of the plants and vegetables. Each labor gets tk. 7500 per month. A night guard watches the farm. His salary is the same. They are inhabitants of the village Gaidghat in the upazila.
Selim Biswas said, he harvests mangos during the whole year. This is the new variety of mangos in the area. Many cultivators come to him for collection of this variety.
He also said he spent tk. 7, 00,000 for cultivation of fruits and vegetables. After two or three months, he will get tk. 20, 00,000 from the sale of fruits and vegetables.
Robiul Islam, a labourer of the farm said even some months ago, I did not get job in the area. However, at present I work for the whole month and earn money.
Another labor Shariful Islam told the Bangladesh Post that they got extra money for overtime work. I can bear my family expenses and tuition fees of schools of my three children.
Shahin Rabbi, sub assistant agriculture officer of Chuadanga agriculture extension department said the agriculture department gives suggestion about cultivation of fruits and vegetables. We advised Mr. Selim to use composed fertilizers in the field. Accordingly, he did it, as all plants are fresh and fine.
It may be mentioned here that many visitors from towns and villages come to the farm to visit and spend times with pleasure.