How one farmer's papayas transformed a struggling Bangladeshi village
A single farmer's success with papayas has transformed an entire village in Bangladesh. Remrachai Marma, a young grower from Manikchhari Durchhari, started with just 200 trees in 2021. His achievements have since sparked a farming boom, lifting local incomes and cutting unemployment. Marma's papaya garden began modestly on a small plot. By 2023, his 3,000 trees across 10 acres earned him Tk 20 lakh, prompting plans to add another 3,000 seedlings. His success quickly drew attention from traders in Dhaka, ensuring a steady market for the village's produce.
Neighbours soon followed his lead. Rabai Marma invested Tk 40,000 in papaya farming and expects sales worth several lakh taka. Debabrata Chakma now cultivates 30 acres, earning between Tk 5,000 and Tk 8,000 weekly. Meanwhile, Joyram Chakma and Kalparanjan Chakma turned 4.5 acres of unused land into a thriving farm, selling Tk 65 lakh worth of papayas. The shift from struggling jute crops to lucrative papaya farming has reshaped Durchhari's economy. Around 436 hectares in the district now grow papayas, with a target of 6.5 metric tons this year. Demand in major markets like Dhaka, Chattogram, and Feni has surged, with annual sales volumes rising over 40% since 2021. Officials have noted the broader impact. Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, highlighted reduced unemployment in the village as more residents turned to papaya cultivation.
Marma's initial 200 trees have grown into a village-wide industry. With expanded farms and rising demand, Durchhari's papaya trade continues to thrive. The district's production targets and steady sales suggest long-term benefits for local farmers.
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