The young man immediately retired from the job from the Army, was passing time with agony how to make his time meaningful which could help bring some money honestly by working hard. He passed about two years where he could not decide to settle.
But sudden a thinking had stormed his brain and decided to work in agriculture field. Without wasting the time anymore, Matiar Rahan, 59, of Chandpur village in Harinakundu fenced two bighas of land to cultivate guava, plum and some other fruits and vegetables. Later he managed another four of land at the village. Now the area of his operation for fruit production is six bighas that is almost 240 decimals. Ballsundary variety of plum has been changing the lot of the retired personnel.
When this correspondent visited the orchard of Matiar Rahman, witnessed a number of nosimon (good carrying three wheelers) were loaded with Ballsundary variety of plum. A sub assistant agriculture officer (SAAO) of the department of agriculture extension (DAE) Ramendu Kumar Biswas was also seen there talking to the farmer.
Matiar Rahan said it was a tough time for him when he was not in a position to decide how to make the life meaningful. Just then some people including the SAAO had suggested him to cultivate fruit, especially, Thai variety guava and Kashmiri plum.
He spent Taka about two lakhs in the first year in 2020 and another two lakhs in 2021. In last two years he had harvested Ballsundari plum and Guava for Taka seven lakh and expecting more three lakh in coming months. Excluding all expenses the man is expected to gain Taka six to seven lakh in two years. He himself has been caring the orchard where a fulltime day labourer was assisting him round the clock.
Matiar Rahman said above the two fruits, he has been cultivating seedless plum (boroi) and some other fruits and various types of vegetables round the y ear. Most of the vegetables are consumed by his family members and near and dear ones. Those are distributed free of cost.
According to him, his lone daughter was married to an engineer of the department of public health, while the son a student at the University of Dhaka.
Matiar Rahman said he has been cultivating the fruit and other agriculture products with his innovative idea instead traditional concept. It was also a research activity to him which might help bring foreign currency for the country by producing organic and health-friendly fruits when our present agriculture produces were blamed non-organic to some foreign country people.
Four other persons have started producing Thai variety of guava and Ballsundari variety of boroi this season. But the orchards are not expanded as desired by the entrepreneurs when the brick kiln owners have been booking the croplands of using top soil. It has been hampering the agriculture farming and also degrading the soil quality and polluting environment badly, he said.
DAE upazila agriculture officer in Harinakundu Hafiz Hasan when contacted admired the activities of Matiar Rahman. He said the orchard has been playing role in producing good quality of guava, Ballsundari plum and seedless boroi. DAE has been rendering all out cooperation and monitoring of the orchard. Regarding cutting of top soil by some brick kin owners, UAO said legal steps will be taken against those liable in doing so.
