Photo: BSS

DINAJPUR, Aug 4, 2026 (BSS) - A young entrepreneur from Chirirbandar upazila of the district has achieved remarkable success through the commercial cultivation of kath lichu (longan), earning more than Taka 10 lakh from fruit sales this season.

Moniruzzaman Rifat, 35, son of Monir Uddin of Jotkrishtapur village under Bhiyail union, has established a two-acre orchard where he cultivates more than 100 trees of two premium Vietnamese varieties-Pingkon and Pingpong.

Talking to BSS during a recent visit to his orchard, Rifat said he has already sold kath lichu worth around Taka 10 lakh this year. In addition to fruit production, he has prepared around 1,000 saplings for sale for the first time, opening a new source of income.

According to him, kath lichu is currently selling for Taka 200 to Taka 250 per kilogram in domestic markets, with major demand coming from Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts across the country.

The two Vietnamese varieties are gaining popularity in Bangladesh due to their high market value and increasing consumer demand.

Deputy Director of the Dinajpur Horticulture Department Md. Ejamul Haque said he recently inspected Rifat's orchard and described the initiative as a promising example of commercial fruit farming in northern Bangladesh.

"If proper orchard management and marketing systems are ensured, commercial kath lichu cultivation could become a profitable venture for farmers in Dinajpur and other northern districts," he said.

He added that while kath lichu cultivation has started on a limited scale in a few upazilas of the district, Rifat is the first entrepreneur in Chirirbandar to achieve commercial success with the fruit. The Horticulture Department is providing him with regular technical support and guidance.

Rifat said his interest in cultivating kath lichu developed while working in the administrative department of a company in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
"I often saw kath lichu in fruit baskets there and local people enjoyed eating it. After tasting the fruit several times, I became interested in cultivating it in Bangladesh," he said.

After returning home, Rifat purchased 50 improved kath lichu saplings from a nursery of Chuadanga Sadar upazila in June 2022 for Taka 3,500. Later, he collected another 75 saplings from the same nursery and planted them around his poultry farm on his two-acre property.

After four years of proper care and maintenance, the trees are now producing abundant fruit.

Rifat said he earned nearly Taka 5 lakh from kath lichu sales last year, while this year's earnings have already exceeded Taka 10 lakh due to a significantly higher yield.

"The orchard has attracted many farmers and young entrepreneurs from nearby districts. Many are buying saplings from me to establish their own orchards," he said.
He added that he is selling 100 saplings for Taka 10,000 to Taka 12,000, depending on their size, and currently has around 1,000 saplings in stock. He expects to earn at least Taka 1 lakh from sapling sales, although demand remains much higher than supply.

Chirirbandar Upazila Agriculture Officer Johra Sultana said Rifat is the first expatriate-returned entrepreneur in the upazila to establish a commercial kath lichu orchard.

She said the trees have started bearing a heavy crop after four years and described kath lichu as a nutritious and delicious tropical fruit belonging to the soapberry family, which also includes lychee and rambutan.

"The Vietnamese Pingpong variety has comparatively lower incidence of pests and diseases, allowing safe production with minimal pesticide use," she said, adding that the Agriculture Department is providing regular technical assistance to the farmer.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Dinajpur, Md. Afzal Hossain, also visited the orchard and expressed satisfaction with Rifat's achievement.

He said the Agriculture Department is committed to extending all necessary support to other young entrepreneurs interested in establishing similar commercial kath lichu orchards in the region.