Farmer Rafiqul Islam of Mallikpur village in Natore’s Bagatipara has achieved remarkable success growing pineapple, typically a hill-country fruit, commercially on flat land. He is now selling ripe pineapples from his garden in the market. Medium-sized, they are as attractive to look at as they are sweet to eat. Seeing his success, many local agricultural entrepreneurs have been crowding in daily to see his pineapple garden. A visit to the site Monday, August 31, found farmer Rafiqul Islam growing pineapple on 10 kathas of land in Mallikpur Bil. Rows of trees across the entire plot bear ripe and half-ripe pineapples.
Busy tending his trees, Rafiqul said he became interested in growing this fruit roughly three years ago, after going to the market to buy pineapples.
About a year and a half ago, he brought 1,500 pineapple saplings from Madhupur in Tangail. Some of the saplings died, and some trees didn’t bear fruit this time. Setting those aside, at least 1,000 trees have borne pineapples this time.
His garden grows the “Calendar” and “Giant Kew” varieties of pineapple.
Farmer Rafiqul Islam said flowers begin to appear a year after planting pineapple saplings in the field. The fruit then begins to ripen four to five months after fruiting starts. This time, pineapples have borne fruit for the first time on nearly all of his trees. The pineapples have already begun ripening. Pineapples from most of the trees in his garden have already been sold at the market.
He said growing this fruit requires applying organic and chemical fertilizer, irrigation and regular care. The relative cost of growing pineapple is low.
Buying 1,500 sapling plants and bringing them home cost him 6,000 taka. Four rounds of weeding cost another 6,000 taka. In addition, 1,500 taka was spent on fertilizer and pesticide, and another 600 taka on irrigation.
So far, he has sold a total of 500 pineapples. At 50 taka each, he has sold 25,000 taka worth of pineapples so far. More than 300 pineapples remain in the garden. In addition, unknown persons stole more than a hundred ripe pineapples from his garden under cover of darkness one night. He further said a single pineapple plant can produce fruit for several years. But since production costs will be lower in subsequent years, he said his profits will be even higher going forward.
However, he said, having no prior experience meant he sometimes ran into trouble. “The trees grew well at first. But at one point, root rot disease appeared on the trees. Some trees died because of it.”
Since this is the first time pineapple has been grown in the district, he said, ordinary people and agricultural entrepreneurs frequently come to see his pineapple garden.
Farmers Abdullah Al Mamun of Gopalpur village and Akbar Ali of Bharatpur village said: “A farmer in Mallikpur village has grown pineapple on his land. Pineapple is usually grown in hilly areas, so we didn’t believe it at first. But later we saw it with our own eyes, and even bought some pineapples. They taste quite good.”
Upazila agriculture officer Sajib Al Maruf said: “Our upazila’s soil and weather seem suitable for pineapple cultivation. Initial success has been achieved growing pineapple in this upazila. The agriculture department will provide farmers with all kinds of support for pineapple cultivation.”