Growers happy with good price of amra

Hog plum growers in different upazilas of the district are happy with good market price of the popular fruit, locally known as amra, this season.

Growers start collecting the delicious fruit from the middle of June every year and continue till the next three months.

Every season, the hog plum trees start flowering between middle of January to mid February and the fruits became matured in four months.

Each maund of hog plum is selling for Tk 700 to Tk 850 at different local markets, growers and people involved with the trade said.

“We started collecting hog plum from the growers around three weeks back,” fruit trader Aminul of Nazirpur upazila said, adding that they carry the fruits to Dhaka and other places of the country by trucks or launches.

Though the production of the fruit is a bit little lower compared to last year, its price is good at the local markets, he said.

Hog plum of Barisal region, especially from Pirojpur and nearby Jhalakathi, has a great demand across the country.

Although hog plum is grown in almost all the seven upazilas of Pirojpur, it grows well in Sadar, Nazirpur, Nesarabad and Kawkhali upazilas.

Due to its increasing demand and good profit, hog plum cultivation in those upazilas is increasing every year.

“Being inspired by other growers, I planted 50 hog plum plants last year and hope to get yield from next season,” Motiur Rahman of Kalakhali village in Sadar upazila said.

“Usually the trees start to bear fruits within three years of plantation but those start yielding in abundance in five years,” he said.

The fruit contains different types of nutrients like vitamin C, calcium, carotene, sugar and Iron.

Besides, hog plum trees did not require any extra care like other fruit trees and no chemical is needed for its preservation.

Pirojpur Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Deputy Director (DD) Abu Hena Mohammad Jafar said growers can collect up to five maunds of hog plum from each mature tree every year and can continue the process for 10 years.

Around 500 hectares of land have been brought under hog plum cultivation in the district this year, which was 493 hectares last year, the DD said.