Jashore: Farmer Akter Hossain of Patibila village in Chougachha upazila began looking for an alternative crop after failing to make the expected profit from traditional rice, jute and wheat cultivation. After seeing the potential of year-round moringa cultivation on social media, he planted 300 ODC-3 saplings on one bigha of land. The venture began with an investment of only Tk 20 thousand, and harvesting and sales started within a few months. Akter now expects the moringa, which can be harvested several times a year, to bring Tk 3 lakh to Tk 5 lakh in income. His success is also drawing nearby farmers to the new crop.
At his field, long, green and fresh moringa pods could be seen hanging in clusters from the trees. Akter said local moringa usually bears fruit in a fixed season, but the year-round ODC-3 variety flowers and fruits at different times of the year. Harvesting begins within 5 to 7 months of planting, and a tree can produce for 5 to 6 years. He said each healthy tree now carries up to 8 to 10 kg of moringa.
Akter contacted the Jashore District Horticulture Centre in September 2023 and collected saplings of the high-yielding ODC-3 variety developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in India. He planted 300 saplings on one bigha of land with an initial investment of about Tk 20 thousand. The small initiative has now become a promising source of income for him.
“Buying saplings, preparing the land and paying labor cost about Tk 15 thousand to Tk 20 thousand,” farmer Akter Hossain said. “But by the grace of Allah, I have already recovered my costs. I hope to see profit ahead.”
Describing sales, he said, “In 9 to 10 months, sales reached around Tk 40 thousand. The trees have started bearing again. I am hopeful of earning Tk 3 lakh to Tk 4 lakh this season. Moringa prices are also good. It is selling in the current market at Tk 100 to Tk 150 per kg. Once planted, moringa can be harvested 3 to 4 times a year. If production rises and the trees are not broken by natural disasters, it could bring Tk 3 lakh to Tk 4 lakh, even Tk 5 lakh.”
Akter’s success has encouraged many local unemployed youths and marginal farmers to consider moringa cultivation. He said demand is high for ODC-3 moringa because it is available off-season and is long and attractive in appearance.
“When I take it to market, it does not even get time to sit there,” he said. “These sell very well and go immediately. They are very tasty. The leaves and pods can all be eaten. I hope even the leaves can be sold.”
Jamal Hossain, a vegetable seller at Chougachha market, said moringa is currently selling at Tk 100 to Tk 150 per kg wholesale and up to Tk 180 in retail markets. Buyers prefer this moringa because it is long and fresh, he said.
Hossain Mahmud, a farmer interested in moringa cultivation, said, “I was truly surprised and inspired after seeing Akter bhai’s field. I had never imagined such income from one bigha of land. In rice, even the cost is often not recovered, while moringa cultivation is bringing profit of lakh taka. I will also collect saplings from the Horticulture Centre next season and begin cultivation.”
Chougachha Upazila Agriculture Officer Mushabbir Hossain said, “ODC-3 is a highly promising and high-yielding variety. It is disease-resistant and drought-tolerant, so it is suitable for Jashore’s weather. We are regularly encouraging farmers in the upazila to cultivate this variety and providing necessary training. Akter Hossain is a bright example of our success. We are continuing to provide him technical support.”
He added, “Cultivation of this kind of nutritious vegetable must be expanded in the future. Along with meeting the country’s nutritional demand, increased production could also create export opportunities.”
Agriculturist Dipankar Das, deputy director of the Jashore Horticulture Centre, said quality saplings of the year-round ODC-3 moringa variety can be produced quickly through tissue culture technology. Harvesting begins within 5 to 6 months of planting, and production continues throughout the year. Farmers can profit at low cost by cultivating it commercially or around homesteads, he said.
He said about 7 thousand saplings were produced last year, of which farmers took 6 thousand. This year, the target is to produce 10 thousand saplings.
Dr. Tanvir Islam, assistant professor in the Department of Food and Nutrition Science at Jashore University of Science and Technology, said moringa pods and leaves are recognized globally as a superfood. They contain vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, iron and antioxidants.
Noting the opportunity for additional income from moringa leaves, he said the leaves are now valuable in the global market. If dried and ground into powder, they can be sold online or in markets. Supplying moringa leaves in bundles like other leafy vegetables could also fetch good prices, allowing farmers to earn extra income from leaves as well as pods.
Pratap Mandal, additional director of the Jashore Department of Agricultural Extension, said the ODC-3 variety is highly promising because it flowers and fruits throughout the year. With government support and export opportunities, Jashore’s year-round moringa could help meet the country’s nutritional demand and also build a market abroad, he said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report