Farmer Amirul Islam from northern district Thakurgaon used to cultivate various crops, including paddy, on his one acre of land. However, he abruptly shifted his focus to planting trees for a Malta orchard a few years ago.

Amirul planted approximately 270 malta trees on his land in Ranisankail upazila’s Bansbari village. The yield began last year, and he earned TK 3 lakh by selling malta. This year's yield is anticipated to be around 150 maunds  from which he is expected to earn Tk 3 lakh, he said.

Amirul said, “I had a difficult beginning. People used to say, the tree would not grow, and I would not get any yield or Amirul has gone mad; is it possible to grow Malta on this land? At one point, Amirul has to regret - criticism like this.”

Read: Demand for salted hilsa up in north Bangladesh

Amirul Islam continued, saying, “When malta tree started to grow, people said that malta would not be sweet. I have heard many such things. Now everyone addresses me as malta Amirul.”

He attributed the inspiration for the malta garden to Sanjay Debnath, the former agriculture officer of Ranisankail Upazila, and Anwar Hossain, his deputy assistant agriculture officer. All the malta trees were provided by the Agriculture Office, he said.

Read: Bagerhat artisans torn between preserving ancient craft and economic realities

Ranishankail's malta  are reaching surrounding areas, including capital Dhaka.

Retailers are selling malta at rates ranging from TK60 to 70 per kg in different markets of the upazila. Malta has become a common commodity in various bazaars and alleys of  Ranisankail Upazila.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension Department, 420 farmers have cultivated malta on a total of 28 hectares and 6 acres of land in the upazila.

The Agriculture Office reports 513 metric tonnes of malta worth around Tk 1.5 crore have been produced  in Ranisankail upazila this year.Jahangir Alam, another farmer from the Bhandara area of Ranisankail, shared a similar experience. Initially facing disdain from family and locals, he now witnesses increased interest in his malta garden.

With the support of Sanjay Debnath, Jahangir Alam planted 370 malta trees on one acre of land five years ago. He has sold 100 maunds of malta for Tk 2600 per maund so far. He expects to earn about TK 7 lakh this year.

Read: Elevated Expressway witnessing 50% higher traffic than expected; almost 1 million use it in first month

Farmers Amirul Islam and Jahangir Alam highlighted that malta cultivation has minimal costs and involves only the application of pesticides for disease control and regular maintenance. Many farmers in the upazila are now actively engaging in malta cultivation.

Sanjay Debnath, the former Upazila Agriculture Officer, expressed satisfaction, saying, “I encouraged the farmers to cultivate malta. Farmers have to understand a lot about malta farming. Many started malta cultivation by trusting me alone and became successful. Then many expressed interest in malta's cultivation.”

Upazila Agriculture Officer Shahidul Islam said, "Now that the door of possibility has been opened, we expect more malta production in the future. Farmers are receiving all kinds of assistance from the Upazila Agriculture Office.”