<i>Mango round the year</i>
Ripe mango in the orchard of Shahidul Islam at Dharail village in Pabna.Photo: STAR
It is the month of 'Falgun' when mango trees are in buds. But trees in Shahidul Islam's orchard are full of mature mangoes. Many peoeple from far and near come to see his garden at Dharail village in Chatmohar upazila in Pabna. Locals called him 'Aam Shahidul'. There are some special varieties of all season mango in his 77 bigha garden. He planted hybrid varieties from the US, Pakistan, Mianmar, India and Thailand. The Vastara variety of mango will ripe within a week, he told this correspondent during a recent visit to the garden he started two years ago. Local varieties like Fazli, Langra, 'Gopalvog', Khirshapati are also there in the garden with over 2,5000 mango trees. Shahidul's orchard is the largest one in Pabna district. Shahidul started raising the orchard in 1980 with only six bighas of land. Shahidul raised the garden with help of government's Mango Research Institute in Chapainawabganj and the Horticulture Department'. Shahidul said his initial success helped expand his orchard. About 6,000 trees are now bearing mango, which will earn him a big amount of money, he said. “I hope to earn Tk 8-10 lakh this year”. Last year I sold magoes worth about Tk 4 lakh, he said. “In next 3-4 years, I hope to earn Tk 40-50 lakh annually” he said. A large number of hybrid mango trees including Vastara, Niluchin, Dofala and Trifola bear fruit round the year. “These are special attractions for people. The mangoes are more sweet than seasonal ones”, he said. Many people now come to him for advice to raise mango orchard. He sells grafted saplings at cheaper rates to inspire people, he said. Shahidul is now raising lichi orchard also.
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