KAMALGANJ, MOULVIBAZAR, Feb 20: Azadur Rahman, a farmer from Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar, has emerged as a model cultivator by achieving remarkable success in jujube farming, inspiring many young people in the area to take up fruit cultivation.
For the past 17 years, Azadur has been cultivating chemical-free jujube in his orchard at Shamshernagar, producing high-quality fruit that not only meets local demand but is also supplied commercially to major cities including Dhaka and Chattogram.
A resident of Srisurya Nayagaon Village under Patanushar union, Azadur chose agriculture as his profession after completing his master's degree, instead of pursuing a conventional job. His orchard now features several popular jujube varieties, including Thai Apple Kul, BAU Kul, Jambu Kul, Dhaka-90, and other sweet and sour varieties.
A recent visit to his orchard revealed around seven acres of land filled with fruit-laden trees, many bending under the weight of the harvest. Bamboo supports have been installed to protect branches, while protective netting surrounds the orchard to prevent bird damage. Around 20 to 25 workers are engaged daily in harvesting and selling the fruit.
Azadur said he invests around Tk 5 lakh annually in jujube and sapling production and earns between Tk 6 lakh and Tk 7 lakh in return. This season, he has achieved higher profits from Dhaka-90 and Jambu Kul varieties.
"Currently, Dhaka-90 and Jambu Kul are selling at Tk 100 per kg, while BAU Kul is selling at Tk 80 per kg. We harvest between 300 and 500 kg of jujube daily," he said.
He added that he spent around Tk 7 lakh cultivating jujube on eight acres of land this year and has already sold fruit worth Tk 2 lakh. He expects to earn around Tk 10 lakh more from the remaining harvest. In addition to fruit sales, he also produces and sells grafted saplings of fruit and flower plants, creating additional income opportunities.
Visitors from different areas are coming to see the orchard and purchase fresh fruit. Parvez Ahmed, a visitor from Moulvibazar town, said Azadur's success has encouraged others.
"He has become self-reliant through jujube farming. His orchard is an inspiration for many," he said.
Local student Akhi, who came to buy jujube from the Shamshernagar area, said the fruit is popular for its taste and quality.
Agriculture officials said jujube cultivation is gaining popularity in the upazila. According to agriculture officer Joyanta Kumar Roy, around 20 hectares of land have been brought under jujube cultivation in Kamalganj this season.
"The soil and weather conditions here are suitable for jujube farming, and Azadur Rahman's success is encouraging many unemployed youths to engage in agriculture," he said.
Officials also noted that farmers are increasingly selecting improved varieties, resulting in better yields and higher income.
Azadur Rahman's success is now seen as more than an individual achievement - it represents a growing shift toward profitable fruit farming and highlights the agricultural potential of Kamalganj.
