Fields across Sirajganj are filled with thriving papaya orchards as growers expect to produce around 6,000 metric tonnes of the fruit this season.
Papaya trees across the district are carrying heavy clusters, with yields averaging 20 to 30 kilograms or more per tree. A bumper harvest and strong market demand have left local growers satisfied.
Papaya cultivation has expanded across riverine shoals (chars) and elevated lands in Sadar, Kamarkhanda, Belkuchi, Ullapara and Shahjadpur upazilas.
Farmers prefer Hybrid and Shahi varieties. Besides meeting local demand, papayas from Sirajganj are being supplied to Dhaka, Tangail, Bogura, Rajshahi and Pabna.
Growers said papaya cultivation provides higher returns than traditional crops such as paddy and maize, prompting many to allocate parts of their farmland to the fruit. Favourable weather has also boosted plant growth and yields.
Abdul Kuddus, a grower from Sadar upazila, said he switched from paddy and maize to papaya several years ago because of lower returns.
He said his harvest this season is excellent, averaging 25 to 30 kilograms per tree, while the fruit is fetching good market prices.
Jahangir Alam, a farmer from Kamarkhanda upazila, said wholesalers are buying papayas directly from the fields, saving growers transport costs and time.
Wholesale trader Zahidul Islam said Sirajganj’s papayas are in demand for their superior size and quality, prompting traders to procure them directly from the fields for distribution to various districts.
According to District Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) data, the cultivation target was approximately 205 hectares this season. Officials said actual cultivation has surpassed the target.
Agriculture officials attributed the good yield to favourable weather, high-yielding seed varieties, modern farming techniques and growers’ enthusiasm. Many farmers are also shifting from heavy reliance on paddy to alternative commercial crops.
AKM Monjure Mawla, Deputy Director of the District DAE, said papaya is gradually becoming a key commercial crop in Sirajganj as farmers turn to alternative cultivation.
He said the agriculture department expects total district production to reach roughly 6,000 metric tonnes this season.
Farmers plan to expand papaya cultivation next season due to favourable market returns.
Abdul Hai Munshi, another grower from Sadar upazila, said papaya is becoming a primary source of income for many families. He added that government support and steady market prices could boost production further.
Industry insiders and agriculture officials said papaya has year-round demand in both green (raw) and ripe forms, creating further potential for the local agrarian economy.
They stressed that ensuring fair prices and improving storage, preservation and marketing facilities would make cultivation more lucrative and allow Sirajganj’s papayas to reach major national markets more widely.
