To change the perception that grapes grown in the country from foreign varieties turn sour, Sobuj, a young agricultural entrepreneur of Barmi Union’s Satkhamair (Paschimpara) village of Sreepur Upazila in Gazipur, has started grape cultivation after watching YouTube.
He started grape cultivating by collecting grape saplings from Abdur Rashid, a farmer from Jogihuda village in Maheshpur, Jhenaidah district.
Sobuj proved that it is possible to cultivate and grow grapes on the red soil of Gazipur.
He hopes he will get profit from the farming.
During a visit to his orchard, this correspondent found that Sobuj busy nursing grapes hanging from fences made with bamboo and threads. He looks after the maintenance of his orchard.
He has started cultivating the Super Sonica variety of grapes using fences in his orchard. Although he planted experimentally 25 grape plants about a year ago for the first time, 21 plants are yielding. 300 to 400 grams of grapes are hanging on each bunch of the plants.
Farmers from surrounding areas are showing interest in grape cultivation due to the good size and yield of grapes in his orchard. He hopes that the grapes from his orchard will be more juicy, sweet and tasty than those imported from abroad. If he succeeds in this cultivation which he initiated as a hobby, he has plans to pursue it commercially.
Sreepur Upazila Agriculture Officer Sumaiya Sultana Bonya said that grapes are a high-value fruit. There is no grape cultivation in our country. The soil of Sreepur is suitable for grape cultivation. The young man from Satkhamair (West Para) village, Sabuj, has demonstrated grape cultivation on a preliminary basis.
“We, the agriculture department, have always been by his side by providing advice on fertiliser management and pesticide application. If the quality of grapes is good, we will take necessary initiatives in grape cultivation with the farmers. The agriculture department is working towards that goal,” she said.
Regarding grape cultivation, Sabuj said, “If grape saplings can be planted in the months of Chaitra, Baishakh, Jaishtha, and Ashar, one can get yield in the first year. If planted later, the yield will be less. Grapes can be cultivated with a simple method. Pillars with a height of 7-8 feet are required in the field. When planting saplings, it is important to maintain a distance of 9 feet between each line and 6 feet between each plant.”
“The yield will be better if planted in this way. Before planting the saplings, the area where they will be planted should be well-dug and fertilised with organic fertiliser, TSP, and gypsum fertiliser. Ten to twelve days after planting the saplings, a fungicide should be sprayed over the saplings,” he added.
Saiful Islam, who helps with the orchard work, said, “Many people from our country go abroad to work in fruit or grape orchards. I never imagined I would work in a grape orchard. These grapes seem very juicy and sweet.”
Grape grower Sabuj Mia said that he has collected saplings from a farmer of Moheshpur Upazila’s Jogihuda village in the Jhenaidah district. Although the fruit is supposed to be harvested after seven months of planting, the grape harvest in his garden takes 10 months.
He claimed that the yield was delayed by three months due to a lack of care. According to him, if more entrepreneurs like him come forward in grape cultivation, there will be no need to bring millions of tons of grapes from outside the country.
He hopes that by cultivating these grapes, the country’s demand can be met and exported abroad. This will help our country progress and improve our financial situation.
He further said, “If anyone wants to come and visit my orchard, he must come and taste the grapes. With the support of the agricultural department and the government, I believe it is possible to succeed in commercial grape cultivation.”
Moniruzzaman, from the neighbouring Tengra village, works at a private company in Dhaka. He came home for the Eid holidays and visited Sabuj's grape garden after seeing it on social media. He said, “Such beautiful foreign fruit in our soil! After tasting one, he remarked that these grapes are very sweet.”
Assistant Professor at Sreepur Freedom Fighter Rahmat Ali Government College Abu Bakar Siddique Akand said after visiting his grape orchard, “The young man Sabuj has taken a risk by cultivating various fruits in his garden. Previously, he made a name for himself in the area by growing oranges. Despite the risks, he has shown that it can be done. His success will inspire other young people and farmers. Sabuj has proven that Bangladeshi youth can grow foreign fruits in our soil.”
