The cultivation of olive, a seasonal but profitable fruit, is gaining popularity in many areas of Tangail district. Hundreds of farmers have attained financial solvency by cultivating the fruit.
Sources said the growers are cultivating it abundantly across the district and expecting a good yield of olive this year.
“I have been cultivating olive for the last five years and selling it in good price in the market”, said an olive cultivator Amjad Ali, son of Haroo Miah of Mirzapur upazila.
Witnessing his success, many other farmers of his area have started olive cultivation, Amjad Ali added.
Horticulturist Md. Ripon of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) told this correspondent that the department has advised farmers of this district to cultivate olive, because it requires low cost but ensures high return.
The soil of the many areas of the district such as Mirzapur, Modhupur, Shakhipur, Ghatail, Delduar and Tangail sadar are suitable for olive farming, the DAE official informed.
A good number of farmers of Tangail said they have been cultivating the fruit in their homestead as well as other lands for many years and selling those at a good price.
DAE sources said they are providing quality saplings and latest technology to the farmers in order to boost the production of the fruit.
High lands are better for cultivating olive than the lowlands, that’s why its farming is gaining popularity in high land areas of the district, the sources added.