Malta creates new hopes for CHT farmers
Enthused farmers seek help after good yields in BARI projects
Malta being plucked at a BARI plantation in Khagrachhari.Photo: STAR
Malta cultivation has created new hopes for farmers in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) following good production of the sweet and juicy fruit this year, thanks to the efforts by scientists of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI). At least 500 farmers are now seeking assistance from BARI to raise Malta orchards, its scientists told this correspondent. Cultivation of the fruit, locally called misty kamala, has great prospects in hilltops, slopes and valleys in the whole of CHT, they said. Besides being a good source of Vitamin-C, processed juice, jam, jelly and marmalet can be prepared from it, they said. BARI scientific officer in Khagrachhari Iftekhar Ahmad said it has an orchard garden of about 400 malta plants in Khagrachhari and three more demonstration project in Panchhari, Matiranga and Mohalchhari upazilas with a total of 1400 fruit bearing plants. They are 160-200 pieces of Malta in each tree now, he said. He said they got around 20,000 fruits this year from Khagrachhari garden and another over one lakh pieces from the rest four gardens. More fruits are expected this year, he said. A plant starts fruit bearing in 3-4 years. So farmers can get fruits within a short time, he said. Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali Mallik, Principal Scientific Officer of BARI in Khagrachhari, said malta can be cultivated in both dry and wet seasons but the plants do not survive in stagnant water. Hilltops, slopes and valleys where rainwater do not stand are very suitable for raising malta gardens. The soil and climate of CHT is suitable for this fruit. If half of barren hills are brought under its cultivation, it would earn foreign exchange after meeting home demand, he said. An awareness campaign has been launched in the area to expand its cultivation. Around 400 malta trees can be planted per hectare, he said, he added. Divisional Forest Officer Shah-e-Alam said there are over three lakh acres of 'unclassified government forests' in Khagrachhari. Local people would benefit if a comprehensive plan is taken up for raising orchards in the region, he said. BARI Scientific Officer (Entomology) Chandra Kanta Das said Malta cultivation is very easy and simple as it is less susceptible to pest attack. Sometimes it is affected by leaf miner, lemon butterfly and fruit fly insects and black spot disease but these can be easily resisted by use of insecticides, he said.
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