MANIKGANJ, May 15, 2025 (BSS) - The cultivation of Papaya is gaining
popularity to the farmers of Singair upazila of the district as farming of
the fruit cum vegetable is profitable and its demand is rising across the
country.
 
Farmers are encouraged to cultivate papaya because of the availability of
high yielding variety, fast and high yields as well as higher financial
prospects.

A vast area of Singair upazila is covered with green papaya fields and the
farmers are busy cultivating, nursing and harvesting the fruit cum vegetable.
 
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a lot of families are
cultivating papaya and extending its cultivation area every year. Previously,
people planted papaya saplings in their home garden for family use but at
present, commercial farming of Papaya is on the rise, it added.
 
Md Juran Khan and Bhanu Bibi of Char Azimpur village said they are expecting
a profit of Taka 8 to 10 lakh this year with the cultivation of papaya.
 
Abu Taher, another cultivator of village Beguntubi, said he has already
earned about Taka 1.5 lakh selling papaya from his early cultivated six
bighas of land and he is expecting earning at least Taka 5-6 lakh during the
current season.
 
Amed Ali of Boiragirtek, Kamal Baroi of Shibpur village, Babul Mia of Azimpur
village, Hisham uddin of Golapnagar village under Shayesta union, S M
Shahidul Kabir of Rajendrapur village of Talebpur union and Salam Mollah of
Kangsha village under the same union said they have cultivated Papaya on
their land which are growing well. The farmers are expecting good production.

Everyday a good number of Papaya cultivators wait by the side of the
Hemayetpur-Manikganj Regional Highway with various types of Papaya to sell
those to the passerby.

Consumers are getting the benefits of increasing production. They are happy
to get ripe papaya at a cheaper price during the holy month of Ramadan as it
is one of the favourite items of Iftar.
 
When this correspondent visited different parts of Singair upazila found
farmers of vast areas were engaged in collecting papaya and supplying those
to the markets. Under the big papaya trees new plants are being planted.
 
Singair Upazila Agriculture Officer Tipu Sultan Swapon said a total of 850
hectares of land was brought under papaya cultivation during the current
season with a production target of 17, 000 tonnes.
 
He said the DAE is giving necessary training to the papaya cultivators and
advised them to visit the farming areas regularly to get more production. So,
the cultivators of the upazila are feeling encouraged to cultivate the fruit
cum vegetable.
 
The Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Dr. Robiah Noor Ahmed said
the soil of Singair upazila of the district is suitable for papaya
cultivation. Quality papaya grows here abundantly, he added.

Traders said papaya is being used more as a vegetable than fruits. Papaya is
supplied to the different markets including the capital city after fulfilling
the demands of the district.