By Md Aynal Haque RAJSHAHI, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS)- Instead of running after a job, Hanif Mondal (35), son of Amedul Mondal of Fatehpur village in Sholua Union of Charghat upazila, has achieved remarkable success in malta (sweet orange) cultivation.  After completing his honours degree from a private university, Hanif chose entrepreneurship over employment and built Hanif Agro Farm and Nursery.   In 2019, he set up "Hanif Mondal Agro Farm" on 16 bighas of land beside his home. The farm has since gained wide recognition mainly for malta cultivation. Alongside different varieties of malta, the farm also has orchards of Chinese orange, year-round wood apple, guava, pomegranate, year-round hog plum, and mango. In addition, rabi crops are cultivated as companion crops.  Farmers and new entrepreneurs collect saplings of malta and other fruit trees from the farm for commercial cultivation.   Speaking about his journey, entrepreneur Hanif Mondal told BSS that he started the initiative in 2019 under the name "Hanif Agro Farm and Nursery," initially cultivating malta and oranges on a small scale. At present, he is cultivating malta, mango, and various other fruits on nearly 26 bighas of land. He said that at the beginning, he was apprehensive-whether the trees would survive and whether they would bear fruit-but with regular guidance from the Upazila Agriculture Office, he took proper care of the orchard.  Now, he is harvesting an average of 80 to 100 kilograms of malta per tree.   His orchard has varieties such as BARI-1, Yolo malta, Vietnamese malta, Moroccan malta, Chinese orange, Darjeeling orange, and Variegated malta. On an experimental basis, he is also cultivating Kashmiri Kinnu, Japanese seedless malta, and Paokenu-1 varieties. Compared to other crops, production costs are lower, making malta cultivation more profitable, he said. Hanif sells malta at Tk 200 per kilogram in the local market. In the current season, he expects to earn around Tk 10 lakh from his orchard.   Hanif's success has now become a topic of discussion in the area. People from neighboring districts are visiting his orchard; some are buying saplings and fruits. Local traders are also collecting malta directly from the garden. Upazila Agriculture Officer Al Mamun Hasan said that the soil and climate of Charghat are highly suitable for malta cultivation.  Inspired by Hanif, many farmers are now showing interest in malta farming. "We are supporting farmers with training, advice, and fertilizers. We hope to see even greater success in malta cultivation in the future," he added. Malta farming in the Rajshahi region has been a significant success, emerging as a popular and lucrative agricultural venture for local farmers.  Farmers are reaping substantial profits from cultivating malta, leading many to switch from other fruits and vegetables due to better financial returns.  Some farmers have earned several hundred thousand Taka from their orchards. The cultivation of malta (specifically the BARI Malta-1 variety) is bringing about a revolution in the local economy, helping hundreds of people from ultra-poor families attain self-reliance and boosting rural economic activities. The local green malta variety, "BARI Malta-1," developed by the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI), is highly popular. It is known for being more drought-tolerant and tasty compared to exotic varieties. The fruit is well-suited to the drought-prone Barind region of Rajshahi. Farmers are adopting modern technologies like drip irrigation and mixed fruit farming (intercropping with vegetables or other fruits like dragon fruit, lemon, and jujube) to maximize land use and profit. The Department of Agricultural extension and research offices provide regular guidance to farmers.  In essence, malta farming has become a boon for farmers in Rajshahi, significantly contributing to food and nutrition demands while improving the socio-economic conditions of the region. Godagari Upazila Agriculture Officer Mariam Ahmed said there is a water crisis in the area as it is in the Barind region. So, the farmers in this region are interested in farming in Malta as it takes less water to get a good yield with a little care.   Malta is being cultivated on around 110 bighas of land in this upazila, said the agricultural officer. Dr Shafiqul Islam, Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Station, said Barimalta1 is more drought-tolerant and tasty than any other exotic variety.   Cultivation of malta, a high-value citrus fruit, has been gaining popularity as the growers are reaping lucrative outputs from malta farming in the Barind region.   Dr. Islam said green malta being produced locally has gained huge popularity in the region as the growers are reaping lucrative outputs from the farming.

BAGERHAT, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 2,000 blankets were distributed among cold-stricken, helpless and distressed people in Rampal upazila of Bagerhat district today to alleviate their sufferings amid the prevailing cold wave. The blanket distribution programme was organised by the Rampal Coal-Based Thermal Power Plant at the Rajnagar Union Parishad premises in Rampal upazila. Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten attended the programme as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, he urged voters to participate in both the upcoming February 12 referendum and the national elections by casting votes in the 'pink' and 'white' ballots respectively.  He said voters should exercise their voting rights according to their own judgment, based on their preferred candidates and opinions. The deputy commissioner also said that the assistance provided by the Rampal Coal-Based Thermal Power Plant authorities should not be considered as charity, but as part of their social and environmental responsibility.  He added that the power plant has been carrying out various welfare activities for the benefit of the local community, which people should accept positively. Local officials, representatives of the power plant, and residents of the area were present at the programme.