Nur Islam Noyon :
A field covered in velvet of green leaves. White petals and yellow renu flowers peek out from the gaps in the wide grooved leaves. Red, brown and green strawberries hang from vines at the base of the trees. The aroma of this exotic fruit swaying in the cool northern breeze now intoxicates Rabipur village in Birol Upazila of Dinajpur. A beautiful strawberry garden has been developed there by the hands of four young entrepreneurs, which eager people flock to see every day.
Four friends—Shahriar Hossain, Arif Hossain, Moniruzzaman and Chamiul Islam—have chosen agriculture instead of chasing jobs. They have developed a strawberry garden on about 87 percent of their land using modern mulching methods. Not only strawberries, but they are also jointly cultivating cucumbers, tomatoes, brinjals, guavas and litchis on lease of about 12 acres of land. Their initiative has brought new life to the crop fields of the Rabipur area.
One of the entrepreneurs, Chamiul Islam, said that along with his studies, he became interested in cultivating high-value crops after watching YouTube. Although he started on a small scale at first, he faced various obstacles and setbacks. However, he did not give up. Later, when two other friends, including his neighbor Shahriar Hossain, joined the initiative, it took on a larger scale.
Shahriar Hossain said, “Seeing Chamiul’s interest and hard work, the four of us started working together. Now, as the yield is good, our hard work seems worthwhile.”
A tour of the garden showed that about 15,000 strawberry seedlings of several varieties, including Winterdon, Festival and American Festival, have been planted using the modern mulching method. The seedlings have started yielding about 75 days after planting. In the meantime, they have sold about eight and a half maunds of strawberries.
Currently, strawberries are being sold at an average of about 400 taka per kilogram. The entrepreneurs expect a yield of about 150 maunds by the end of the season. They expect to earn 7 to 8 lakh taka after deducting all expenses.
These young people are not lagging behind in the digital age. They have opened a Facebook page called ‘Biral Agro Hub’ and are regularly publishing videos and pictures of their cultivation there. Seeing this, many are inspired to visit the garden and seek advice.
Ruhul Kuddus, a school teacher from Kaharol, said, “I came here after hearing about strawberry cultivation. It feels good to see it with my own eyes. I am also planning to cultivate it next year.”
Biral Upazila Agriculture Officer Rumman Akhter said that since the Dinajpur region is cold, there is potential for strawberry cultivation here. The Agriculture Department is providing entrepreneurs with necessary fertilizers, materials and technical support. Cultivation of this fruit on loamy soil can be profitable from October to March.
Workers keep watch at night in a hut built in a corner of the garden. The dream of the four young people is not only to become self-sufficient; They also plan to spread strawberry cultivation throughout the area through the production of seedlings in the future. This initiative in Rabipur has now become a source of inspiration for many young people.
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