<i>Orchards replacing shrubs in the hill districts </i>
A good trend is marked in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Orchards are replacing shrubs on hills and slopes.
This will benefit the area doublybring affluence to the people and stop soil erosion that damages the ecology, which brings disaster at times.
In last several years, at least 6,000 gardens of fruits, medicinal plants and timber have been raised by private individuals on hitherto barren and fellow lands.
Besides adding to the beauty of the hills, this has created sanctuaries for wildlife, particularly birds.
At least 170 types of wildlife including birds now get their safe habitat, environmentalists said.
Agriculture Extension Department officials said this has been possible due to initiative and campaign by AED and forest department and cooperation of hill peopleboth Bangalee and tribesmen.
The CHT peace accord signed in 1997 during Awami League government contributed greatly to it as it helped maintain peace in the hills, AED officials said.
Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board and three hill district councils also provided assistance in this regard, they said.
According to Khagrachhari AED, about 2550 personal forests, fruit orchards and medicinal gardens were established in the district in last 10 years. Their number is 2009 in Rangamati and 1789 in Banderban, they said.
Some seven lakh people are benefited directly or indirectly from the gardens.
But one thing is still unresolved. There is no storage or processing facility in the CHT. A good portion of the produce rot for lack of these facilities, they said.
Fruits produced in the area could earn foreign exchange if these facilities could be created.
Earlier, Jumm farmers used to clear shrubs and forests and till the lands, which cause massive soil erosion. Raising gardens and forests has stopped this.
Tusar Bashu in Betchhari in Dighinala upazila in Khagrachhari said, he has 102 verities of fruits and medicinal trees on his 17-acre garden raised in 2004.
A National Awarded winner, Tushar said he is getting fruits from his garden, which is worth about Tk one crore now. Many others in the area are now following him, he said.
Col (rtd) Nurunnabi, said he has a vast orchard and timber forest in Manikchhari under Khagrachhari district, whish is worth at least Tk 50 laklh.
Another national award winner, Humaun Kabir said he is very happy that his Sukhi Nilganj garden now draws visitors.
It is a wonderful feeling when I see birds chirping in the garden.
Deputy Director of Rangamati AED Laich Uddin said besides benefiting the owners, the gardens and orchards have stopped soil erosion in those areas.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in Bandarban Abdul Mabud said the gardens help protect the biodiversity of the hills.
Deputy Director of Khagrachhari AED TM Monjurul Islam said it is high time to set up cold storage or fruits processing plants so that the people can benefit more.
District Council Chairman Monindra Lal Tripura said over phone that steps should he taken right now to set up storage and processing facilities to retain people's interest in raising orchards.
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