A quiet village of Rabipur, nestled within Biral upazila of Dinajpur district, witnessed an achievement of glory of entrepreneurship. Once an ordinary piece of farmland now bursts with life - rows upon rows of vibrant green papaya trees standing tall, their heavy fruits nodding in the breeze like a silent applause to the man who dared to dream big.
That man is Md Badruzzaman, a 38-year-old farmer-turned-agricultural-entrepreneur whose decision to experiment with a new papaya variety has quickly become the talk of the region. What began just months ago as a cautious trial on a fraction of his land is now a flourishing model of modern farming success due to cultivating the high-yielding the papaya variety.
On Wednesday, a visit to Badruzzaman's garden revealed the impressive results of his venture. With support from the Biral Upazila Agriculture Office, he planted the papaya seedlings on 20 decimals of his land in May. Within just three months, the trees reached heights of 3 to 4 feet, bearing fruit from base to top.
Encouraged by this success, he expanded cultivation to another 70 decimals of his land. This marks his first attempt at growing the modern variety, supplied by the Agriculture Department, and the results have exceeded expectations.
Wholesalers are currently purchasing papayas from his garden at Tk 20 per kilogram (KG). So far, he has sold around 30 maunds of raw papaya for Tk 24,000, with another 30 maunds ready for sale.
He anticipated harvesting papayas over the next six months and is expecting to earn lakhs of taka from more than a hundred maunds of produce.
On August 2, Badruzzaman planted ‘Top Lady’ seedlings on an additional 70 decimal of newly prepared land. These seedlings are now beginning to grow, and he is personally overseeing their care with help from workers. His goal is to maintain year-round papaya production from both gardens.
Badruzzaman said that papaya cultivation is relatively low-cost compared to other crops. His success has drawn attention from local farmers and youth, many of whom visit his garden for inspiration. He actively encourages and advises them to pursue papaya farming.
In this journey, he received comprehensive support from the Biral Upazila Agriculture Office. Looking ahead, he plans to expand his papaya cultivation to even more land.
Abdur Razzak, a farmer from Farakkabandh village, said that papaya farming is becoming a symbol of opportunity not just for Badruzzaman, but for farmers and unemployed youth across the region. Papaya remains in demand year-round, and its cultivation requires less investment in fertilizers and pesticides, he added.
Mostafa Hasan Imam, Agriculture Officer of Biral Upazila, said that under a dedicated project, farmers are receiving technical and logistical support for papaya cultivation.
"Interest in the variety is growing, and he believes that young people interested in agriculture will play a key role in producing safe, pesticide-free vegetables to meet consumer demand," he added.
Top Lady is a remarkable variety of seedless papaya known for its exceptional taste and convenience. This tropical fruit is characterized by its vibrant orange flesh, which is exceptionally sweet, juicy, and free of seeds. The papaya typically boasts a smooth and thin skin, making it easy to peel and enjoy the delectable fruit inside. With a well-balanced flavor profile, combining sweetness and a hint of tropical tang, this papaya variety is a popular choice among consumers seeking a delightful and hassle-free tropical fruit experience.
