Cultivation in Kurigram is Russian grapes, two bigha garden is expected to earn 9 lakh taka

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For the first time in Kurigram, two agricultural entrepreneurs have succeeded in cultivating Russian Baikunur grapes commercially. They expect to produce about 1,800 kg of grapes this year from the two-bigha garden. Excluding the cost, the profit can be around 9 lakh rupees, the entrepreneurs said.

Entrepreneur Hasem Ali and his nephew Ruhul Amin have developed this vineyard in Ajoatari village near Gangarhat market in Phulbari upazila. The garden has 460 Baikunu varieties of vines. The initiative, which started with seedlings collected from Russia and Ukraine, has now become a center of interest for local farmers as well.

The entrepreneurs said that in 2017 they planted 50 seedlings experimentally. In the beginning, many expressed doubt, but after eight months, the tree started bearing fruit. Later the garden was expanded step by step. They sold 200 kg of grapes commercially for the first time in 2022. Next year the production increased to 400 kg. 600 kg of grapes were harvested in 2024 and 800 kg last year. Currently 60 trees have borne fruit, including 10 new trees this season.

Hasem Ali, the entrepreneur, said that he first got the idea of ​​grape cultivation from a friend in Ukraine. Later, brother-in-law Ruhul discussed with Amin and jointly developed the garden. He said, “There were many obstacles. But now it feels good to be successful. This year, we expect to make a profit of around 9 lakh taka excluding expenses.

Ruhul Amin said, till now, 12 to 13 lakh rupees have to be invested to build a garden on two bigha land. But that cost has already been raised through the sale of seedlings and fruits.

Agricultural entrepreneur Harun Or Rashid and his wife, who came from Rangpur to see the vineyard, said they came here after watching videos of the vineyard on Facebook and YouTube. After eating a few grapes, they tasted like foreign grapes. They bought a kilo of grapes for the house and expressed their desire to start grape cultivation in the terrace garden.

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Abdus Samad, a local farmer, said that the soil of Kurigram would grow grapes – he did not believe it at first. After seeing the success of his uncle’s garden, he bought 20 seedlings and started cultivating grapes himself.

Agriculturalists say that raising beds and proper drainage should be ensured to avoid excessive rainfall and waterlogging in grape cultivation. Cultivation should be done with sufficient sunshine and ventilation. Besides, it is possible to get good yield through selection of suitable varieties, water saving irrigation system, use of organic fertilizers and regular maintenance.

Phulbari Upazila Agriculture Officer Nilufa Yachmin said that Hasem Ali and Ruhul Amin have given birth to new ideas among farmers of the upazila by cultivating Baikunur grapes on sandy loam soil. Technical advice is being given by the Agriculture Department for disease control and better yield.

Deputy Director of Kurigram Agricultural Extension Department. Abdullah Al Mamun told Prothom Alo that the need for new crops and diversification in agriculture is increasing due to climate change. For the first time, high-value fruits like grapes are being cultivated commercially in Kurigram. However, he advised to adapt to the weather and climate and then go for this cultivation.