A decision to leave a well-paid job and pursue his farming dream has turned Md Rasel Hossain into a tangerine-growing entrepreneur in Shibchar, Madaripur.
His orchard now attracts visitors and buyers from across the area.
Spread across nine bighas of leased land in Mridhakandi village of Dattapara, the integrated farm grows tangerines , malta, guava and various vegetables.
Tangerine trees cover 1.5 bighas, where 60 saplings were planted around seven years ago.
Although some trees died, most have been producing fruit for the past three years.
Small, Chinese-style tangerines now hang in clusters from the trees.
Selling at Tk280–300 per kg, the locally grown fruit has attracted buyers, many of whom visit the orchard to purchase fresh produce.
Visitors also come to see the orchard, take photographs and videos, and pick tangerines directly from the trees.
Rasel said the farm originally belonged to his father.
After returning from Saudi Arabia six years ago, he worked in the transport sector for some time before leaving his job to take responsibility for the family orchard and pursue his ambition of commercial fruit cultivation.
Besides tangerines , the farm produces malta and guava.
It previously had dragon fruit cultivation, while more Tangerine trees were planted this year.
Rasel expects the newly planted trees to start bearing fruit next year.
The farm also grows vegetables.
He said this year’s Tangerine harvest had been particularly good, with sweeter fruit than in previous seasons.
Regular care, fertiliser and crop protection were essential for good yields, he added.
The produce is sold locally in Shibchar and through online orders, while visitors also buy tangerines directly from the orchard.
Although establishing an orchard requires substantial initial investment, regular maintenance costs include fertiliser, pesticides and other care, Rasel said.
The growing popularity of the orchard is an added reward for him.
Visitors come from different places to see the trees, take photographs and make videos.
Many buy one or two kilogrammes of tangerines before leaving.
Shamim, a visitor, said he had initially come to see the orchard but decided to buy two kilogrammes after tasting the sweet, tree-ripened fruit.
College student Afroza Akter said she had learned about the orchard through Facebook and visited to see it in person.
She took photographs and bought tangerines , although she found the price slightly high.
Another customer, Masum Howlader, said he had bought tangerines from the orchard the previous year and returned this season, finding the fruit juicier and less sour.
Shibchar Upazila Agriculture Officer Alimuzzaman said he had heard that the orchard was producing a good harvest.
The farm was an integrated agricultural venture, with tangerines cultivated on 1.5 bighas, and his office was ready to provide assistance, he added.
