Sweet oranges show promise for commercial farming in Gopalganj

GOPALGANJ, Nov 6: A bumper harvest of sweet oranges at a hobby orchard in Gopalganj Sadar Upazila has raised hopes for commercial cultivation of the fruit in the district.

At Dream Agro Farm in Paschim Shuktail Village of Jalalabad union, large oranges hang from trees amid green foliage. Some are greenish, while others have ripened to an attractive orange colour. Their size and sweet taste have drawn visitors from different areas.

Mahabbat Hossain, a local farmer, started the orchard three and a half years ago by planting 100 saplings collected from Jhenaidah on 75 decimals of unused land.

After years of care, the trees have produced a bumper crop this year, attracting local residents interested in growing the fruit on their own land. Some have already expressed interest in collecting saplings of the same variety.

Mahabbat said he started the orchard purely as a hobby and was initially uncertain about its prospects. However, the good yield has encouraged him to expand the venture.

“I have spent around Tk 1 lakh on the orchard over the past three years. I hope to earn around Tk 3.5 lakh from selling this year's produce. I plan to expand the orchard next year,” he said.

He added that he uses only organic manure and no chemical fertilisers.

Agriculture officials also see commercial potential for orange cultivation in the area, saying the soil and climate are suitable for the fruit.

Bhaskar Baroi, a Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer of Jalalabad union, said proper land selection, cultivation methods and technical support could make orange farming profitable.

“If unemployed young people establish commercial orange orchards through proper planning, they can create employment for themselves and contribute to the local economy,” he said.

Local residents Md Jinnat Ali Mollah and Rohit Sardar said the high market price of oranges makes the fruit unaffordable for many people.

They said increased local production could boost supplies in nearby markets and make oranges available at lower prices.

Agriculture stakeholders hope Mahabbat's success will encourage other farmers to take up orange cultivation. 

They said planned production and proper marketing facilities could help establish orange farming as a promising agricultural venture in Gopalganj, creating employment and reducing dependence on imported oranges.