TDS Desk:

After losing his small business during the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, Isme Azam of Ruposia village in Gabkhandhansiri Union has rebuilt his livelihood by cultivating Thai apple jujube and Bansundari varieties, earning nearly Tk12 lakh a year.

Azam, a former Dhaka-based trader, turned to farming after his enterprise shut down, leaving him unemployed.

Following advice from the upazila agriculture office, he leased 10 bighas of land from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and began cultivating guava and jujube beside his home.

He planted guava on five bighas and jujube on the remaining five. While guava failed to generate returns, jujube proved profitable.

He sourced more than 100 saplings of Thai apple jujube and Bansundari jujube from Jashore and planted them on five bighas.

Fruit began appearing eight months after planting. In the first year, each tree yielded between 20 and 40 kilogrammes.

This season, output has risen to nearly three maunds per tree, he said, citing improved size and taste as key to strong market demand.

He initially sold the fruit at Tk120 per kilogramme and now sells at Tk80 to Tk100. He expects earnings of more than Tk12 lakh from jujube sales this year.

Azam said cultivation costs remain limited after planting, with expenses mainly tied to maintenance and labour. He employs eight to 10 workers to manage the orchard.

Local buyers collect fruit directly from the field, while traders distribute it across district markets. Some produce is also shipped by launch from Jhalakathi to Dhaka.

Inspired by his success, several unemployed youths in the area have started jujube cultivation and expect to begin production next year.

Azam said aspiring growers can obtain saplings from Jashore or directly from him.  Jhalakathi District Agriculture Department Deputy Director Md Abdullah Al Mamun said Azam had become self-reliant after receiving official guidance.

He said the farmer achieved strong yields and market demand without using chemical fertilisers or pesticides, adding that the fruit’s size and flavour had boosted sales.