Pirojpur malta growers all smiles

Malta growers in the district are happy with good production and price of the delicious juicy fruit this year.

“This year, the production of malta has been very good,” said Nasir Ahmed Mollic of Sreeramkathi village inNazirpur upazila.

He started cultivating the fruit three years ago and now his orchard is full of juicy maltas, he said. “I hope to get good profit from selling the fruits this year,” Nasir added.

It takes three years to get production from a tree.

“Wholesale price of one maund (40kg) of malta is Tk 4,000,” said Reboti Sikder of Dakatia village in Sadar upazila, “We are happy with the price,” he said.

One kilogram of malta is sold for Tk 110 to Tk 140 in the local market. Wholesale buyers collect maltas from the orchards.

“BARI-1 variety of malta has been cultivated in the district for around 12 years. Although the number of orchards was few at the beginning, there are orchards on 95 hectares of land in seven upazilas of the district now. Around 900 farmers are involved in malta farming. Most of the orchards are in Sadar and Nazirpur upazilas,” said Pirojpur Department of Agriculture Extension Deputy Director Abu Hena Mohammad Jafar.

He said malta cultivation is increasing every year as the water, soil and weather of the district are very suitable for its cultivation. They are giving technical help to the cultivators for growing quality maltas, he added.

Malta is the district brand of Pirojpur.