Grapes no more 'sour' to them

Saidur Rahman at his grape garden. PHOTO: Star File Photo

Educated Saidur no more hankers after job. He is now solvent by growing grapes, grape plants and other fruits on the homestead at Modanerpara village in on the bank of Brahmaputra river in Fulchari upazila. His grape garden earned him about Tk 40,000 in the last season.

Following him, many marginal and landless farmers have also raised grape gardens.

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Saidur did not inherit any cropland from his father due to erosion by the river.

Faced with acute poverty, Saidur left home in search of a job in 1998. He went to Kashimpur in Gajipur district. Disappointed, he decided to return home.

There, he met a caretaker of a BADC nursery and purchased a graft of grape plant at Tk 25.

Saidur planted the plant on his homestead. In the first year, he produced 10 kilograms of grapes. He sold it at Tk 200 per kilogram and earned Tk 2,000.

He gradually expanded his garden and also started growing grafts of grape plants. He also thought of growing grafts of others fruit and medicinal plants.

In addition to grapes, he earned Tk 12,000 from grape grafts this year, selling each for Tk 15. Grape plants are planted in May-June. He also earned Tk 5,000 from grafts of other fruit and medicinal plants.

While talking to his correspondent at his garden recently, Saidur said grape cultivation is not costly. Around Tk 200 is spent for erecting a bamboo fence for a small garden of eight to 10 plants. Nearly 700 grafts can be sold from such a garden in a year.

Grape farming is gaining popularity in the area. Many people have started growing grapes to earn profit.

Nurul Islam of nearby Falia village procured ten grape plants from Saidur and raised a small garden in the backyard. He earned Tk 45,000 in the last season.

"I am grateful to Saidur Bhai who inspired me for grape cultivation. Now I am solvent by the grace of God" said Nurul Islam.

Another marginal farmer of the village, Mahbubur Rahman, planted two grape plants, collected from Saidur. He earned Tk 4,000.

Freedom fighter Habibur Rahman of Gholdaha village earned Tk 6,000 from grapes last year.

Kanchipara Union Parishad Chairman Akbar Hossain Sarker, Nabi Baksh, Mukul Mia and Mohammed Ali are among many who now grows grapes with plants collected from Saidur.

Nazrul Islam, Bock Supervisor of Agriculture Extension Department at Bonarpara is locally known as 'tree surgeon' for his expertise in gardening and crop production.

Talking to this correspondent, he said sweet grapes like those imported from Pakistan and other countries can be grown in Gaibandha. Soil of the area is suitable from growing good quality grapes.

AED Deputy Director Abdur Rouf said our soil is fertile enough for grape cultivation. It is a more profitable than our traditional fruits.

AED has launched a motivation campaign in the district to encourage people to grow grapes, he said.