Meherpur:Mithu, a farmer from Gobhipur village in Meherpur, has embarked on a new agricultural venture by cultivating passion fruit, locally known as Anarkali, inspired by videos he watched on YouTube. Despite having no prior experience in growing this fruit, Mithu planted 230 saplings on one and a half bighas of land. In just five months, the vines are now flowering and bearing fruit, marking the beginning of his dream to introduce a potentially profitable crop in the region.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Mithu's journey into farming started at a young age due to financial constraints, which led him to leave school and join his father in farming. Over the years, he has grown various crops such as vegetables, mangoes, bananas, and guavas. However, his curiosity about new crops led him to explore YouTube for information on different farming techniques, eventually discovering videos on passion fruit cultivation.
Mithu shared that he decided to cultivate Anarkali fruit to try something new and gathered information from YouTube and other sources before preparing his land. He spent about 20 to 25 days readying the soil and installed bamboo trellises for the vines. His orchard, with its lush green vines and ripening fruits, has attracted attention from locals and visitors alike.
The cultivation process has been a learning experience for Mithu. He noted that the plants require careful irrigation management to avoid water stagnation, and they started fruiting around five months after planting. Mithu has invested approximately Taka 2 lakh in the project so far and anticipates beginning sales within 10 to 15 days. He hopes to earn between Taka 8 lakh and Taka 10 lakh if market conditions remain favorable.
Local interest in Mithu's venture is growing, with visitors like Saiyadatun Nesa Nayan expressing curiosity and admiration for the new crop. The Department of Agricultural Extension in Meherpur, represented by Deputy Director Kazi Shahnewaz, has pledged support to make the cultivation successful and plans to encourage other farmers after evaluating the crop's viability under local conditions.
Mithu's efforts illustrate how innovation and access to digital knowledge can empower farmers to diversify their crops and potentially increase their income, setting an example for others in the community.