Mouth-watering plums are money-spinners too
Golam Mostafa Jibon, Sirajganj
The idea was not liked by any of his relatives and neighbours. But within two years, it opened up the door to fortune for once unemployed Abdus Salam Ranju. He raised a plum (locally known as Kulboroi) garden on five bighas of land at his Protab village in Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj district. He has already earned about Tk 3 lakh and hopes to sell the rest of seasonal fruits for at least Tk 2 lakh. Traders from different areas buy the attractive apple shaped plum boroi and other varieties of the fruit. The apple boroi sells at around Tk 100 per kilogram. After graduation in 1984, Ranju opened a medicine shop at Ullapara upazila headquarters. He is the son of Omar Ali. In 2000, a gang of dacoits looted cash and medicines from his shop. He passed hard days with his family with two children and tried many ideas. In the meantime, he came in contact with the upazila agriculture officer, who advised him to raise a fruit garden. He planted some olive trees on the backyard, which yielded good results. Being encouraged, Ranju collected 7 plants of high yielding plum from Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) at Mymensingh and some other varieties from tree fairs in 2004. This was simply an experiment, he told this correspondent during a visit to his garden on Friday. "The lively plants bore fruits within a year", he said. He then decided to raise a plum garden of good and high yielding varieties. Last year, Ranju planted more 900 plants of high yielding plums evolved by BAU and some of Indiana and Taiwanese origin on 5 bighas of land. Now all the plants are full of ripe mellow fruits. Ranju sold about 150 mounds of 'jujube' variety of plum so far. With the money, he has started setting up a poultry firm and fishery. He has also set up a nursery in front of his house. He has a plan to expand the fruit garden to 22 bighas. The deputy commissioner, deputy director of district agriculture extension department, Ullapara upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and the upazila agriculture officer have assured him help, he told this correspondent. During the visit, this correspondent found many visitors from different areas of Sirajganj and neighbouring districts, showing interest to raise such gardens. Ranju's garden has provided jobs for seven people including four women. When contacted, Deputy Director of Sirajganj district agriculture extension department Khandaker Hasibur Rahman said 'jujubi' variety has good potential for export also. Ranju's initiative will encourage many others, he said.
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