Humayun Kabir Surya, Kurigram

Entrepreneurs have achieved success in commercial strawberry cultivation in the char area for the first time in Kurigram.

It is believed that in addition to the profitable wind, the high-value fruit with high nutritional value in the char area will meet the needs of consumers and open up new employment opportunities for the backward communities of this region.

Going to the field, it can be seen that strawberries have been cultivated commercially on 12 acres of land in the vast char area of the Teesta River. The combination of light white, red, yellow, and orange colors with green has created a new atmosphere in the char area. This green sheet is extremely attractive to the eye amidst the hot sand. It is like a little absolute health in the scorching sun.

Local entrepreneur Abdur Razzak said, people here usually cultivate corn on these lands. Due to irrigation and transportation problems, they cannot make much profit. We tested the soil here and found that strawberry cultivation is possible here. Due to lack of capital, the work was delayed. Later, with the help of an expatriate friend from Tangail, we planted 3 lakh strawberry seedlings on 12 acres of land. We spent 15 million taka on this. Modern technology has been used to ensure that the seedlings do not suffer any damage due to lack of irrigation. We are using automatic machines from China for irrigation. This is a lot of money. But if we get this high-protein fruit as per the target, then the traders will benefit.

For the first time, strawberry cultivation has been carried out on a large scale in the vast char area of the Teesta River in Char Satalskar village of Bajra Union of Ulipur Upazila of Kurigram. A private organization called 'Asset Agro' has jointly started this activity. The company's manager, Mahbub Bin Mirza, said that three lakh seedlings of six varieties were planted in November last year.

Harvesting started within one and a half to two months. We have harvested some strawberries. They are being sold in the market at a price of 700 to 800 taka per kg. However, the yield has been disrupted due to the defective seedlings of four out of our six varieties. This has caused the company to incur losses. Although we were expecting to produce 1 million tons of strawberries from here, there is doubt whether half the target will be achieved. However, there is no problem with the soil and environment here. Strawberries grow well in cold sandy loam soil. The environment here is not that challenging for strawberries.

Entrepreneur Abdur Razzak further said that strawberries are usually imported from abroad. There is a huge demand for this high-value fruit with nutritional value in the country. If the right seeds and seedlings are selected, it is possible to expand strawberries in this region. This will create new employment opportunities in this area, the farmers of the area will be involved and will become economically self-sufficient. Akbar Ali, a farmer of the area, said, I have heard the name of strawberry. This is the first time I have seen it. It is also delicious to eat. If we get good seedlings and government and private cooperation, we will also be able to produce it.

Regarding this matter, Abdullah Al Mamun, Deputy Director of the Kurigram Agricultural Extension Department said, if the weather and soil here are favorable for strawberry cultivation, it will be considered a profitable fruit for the farmers of this area. The Agriculture Department is providing overall advice. If successful, it will provide employment for everyone in the area and play a major role in the economy of this area.