Shawdesh desk:

Mouthwatering bunches of malta at gardens in  Brahmanbaria bring joy and inspiration to the farmers and common people at large.

Begun in 2015, cultivation of this fruit has got expanded across the district which is enriched with around large and small 2,000 gardens now.

It is learnt that malta cultivation brings more profit and farmers are bent on undertaking the project.

According to district agriculture office, malta gardens are prevalent in all upazilas but those are more in Bijoynagar. Nearly 65 hectares of land in the upazila are showing malta gardens with Singerbil, Paharpur and Bishnupur are at the top of the list.

Various kinds of malta namely Bari-1, Bau-3 and Thai year-long variety are being cultivated in the district.

Owners of the gardens claimed to have bumper production this year due to congenial weather creating attraction for the project.

Talking to Daily Sun, Sabbir Ahmed, upazila agriculture officer in Brahmanbaria, said “Initiation of new gardens will have a positive impact on the production. The agriculture department is extending all –out supports for expansion and management of lemon varieties. Plants, pesticide, fertiliser and other materials are being distributed among the interested farmers.”

Susanta Saha, deputy director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Brahmanbaria, said “We have taken necessary initiatives to encourage production of malta. The district will produce malta worth Tk 27 crore this season.”

Replying to a query, he mentioned that malta has been cultivated in 141 hectares of lands which are six hectares more compared to bygone year.