Samiul Hossain, a 39-year-old agricultural entrepreneur, has successfully transformed his fortune through jujube (boroi) cultivation in Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj becoming a source of inspiration for others.

After a failed career in Iraq as an expatriate, Samiul, a resident of Daingpara area of the upazila, returned home around five years back amid frustration over his career.

Being inspired about the jujube cultivation after watching videos on YouTube, he decided to venture into it. The fruit is popularly known as boroi or kul.

With consultancy from a relative, he leased 16 bighas of land near his house and started its cultivation. As his business began to grow, he expanded the orchard gradually.

Currently, he has been cultivating various types of jujube on 40 bighas of land, flourishing with clusters of ripe fruits.

His endeavor and subsequent success set an example to many unemployed youths to transform their fortunes through farming this fruit.

The 40-bigh orchard is now enriched with various types of jujubes like Bolsundari, Indrasundari, 'Baby Sundari, Kashmiri, and 'Tokmisti.' The trees are now full of fruits, and the branches are weighed down by the abundance of jujubes with the blessing of congenial weather.

The entrepreneur said he initially started selling the ripe fruit at Tk 110 per kilogram, but now the price has come down at Tk 70-80.

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He informed that he has so far sold his yields worth Tk 20 lakh this season, expecting to earn another Tk 30 lakh if the weather remains favourable, indicating a good profit.

Samiul said buyers from different parts of the country come to this orchard and buy the fruit in cash. Currently 25 employees are working with him.

"I used to be unemployed myself, but now, 20 to 25 workers are employed in my orchard every day, and it gives me peace of mind knowing they have work," he said.

Fazlul Bari, a local school teacher who visited the farm, said, "I heard about the bumper harvest of jujube here, so I came to see it for myself. I walked around the orchard, tried the different varieties, and they tasted very sweet. I’m really satisfied, and I’m thinking of starting a similar orchard myself in the future."

Another visitor from Nachol expressed the same sentiments.

Calling Samiul a successful agricultural entrepreneur, Agriculture Officer of Gomastapur Upazila Tanvir Ahmed Sarker said he has shown that agriculture can be highly profitable and become an inspiration for young entrepreneurs.

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The agricultural department continues to offer him all kinds of support and guidance, he said.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, this variety of fruit was cultivated on 535 hectares of land in the district this year.