Shikarpur village in Barura upazila of Cumilla district is witnessing a quiet agricultural revolution as jujube orchards transform the rural landscape and uplift farmers’ incomes.
Once a traditional farming community, the village has now become a hub for cultivating Ball Sundari, Bari Sundari and Kashmiri varieties of jujube.
The success of jujube cultivation in Shikarpur is gradually spreading to neighbouring villages, attracting farmers eager to tap into the lucrative market.
Many of these farmers had spent years abroad before returning home, drawn to jujube farming as a promising alternative to conventional crops.
A winter morning visit to the village offers a picturesque scene: sunlight filters softly through the crisp air, illuminating clusters of ripe jujubes that hang from branches bending under their weight.
Farmers are busy plucking fruits, weighing them for buyers and savouring the freshly harvested sweetness during short breaks.
Ramiz Uddin, a farmer who returned after nearly 20 years abroad, credits his success to the guidance of his brother, Suruj Mia, an established jujube grower.
“In the first year, I cultivated jujubes on 18 decimals of land. Seeing good profits, I expanded cultivation to another 32 decimals,” he said, adding that today many farmers consult him for advice. Alongside jujubes, Ramiz also grows a variety of vegetables.
Abdur Razzak, another local farmer, highlighted the profitability of the crop.
“Shikarpur has become widely known for jujube production. Compared to other crops, jujube farming is far more profitable. Three of us brothers cultivated jujubes on 60 decimals of land. Our cost was about Tk 1,50,000, while sales are expected to reach Tk 5,00,000,” he said.
He also credited the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) for guidance, which helped them achieve good yields.
The popularity of jujube cultivation is crossing village borders. Junab Ali, a farmer from Joykamata, said he started cultivating jujubes after bringing saplings from Shikarpur three years ago.
“I began with 22 decimals in the first year, expanded by another 22 decimals in the second year, and this year I cultivated an additional 16 decimals,” he said.
Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan of the DAE confirmed that jujube cultivation began in Shikarpur four years ago, with Suruj Mia being the pioneer.
“Seeing his success, other farmers, including Ramiz Uddin and Abdur Razzak, also became interested. From the beginning, we have been providing advice and assistance. Today, jujube is being cultivated on 20 acres in this village. Its popularity is now spreading to neighbouring areas, offering new hope for sustainable rural livelihoods,” he said.
Shikarpur’s jujube orchards are not just changing the scenery—they are reshaping the local economy, turning a once-sleepy village into a centre of agricultural innovation and prosperity, he added.