Photo : TDM
The rainy season has arrived, signing the commencement of the tree planting period. In Raipura, Narsingdi, an assortment of fruit and forest saplings have congregated in various marketplaces during this season.
On a Friday afternoon, the open grounds were abuzz with activity, particularly at the Taluk Kandi Shukkur market in Raipura Upazila and the Srirampur market in the Kham Bari area, where buyers and sellers were bustling.
Local nursery proprietors are currently occupied with vending their cultivated saplings at the bazaar. Typically, buyers return home with their preferred trees, often aligned with their interests. However, this year, the cost of saplings has exceeded previous years.
Within the upazila, markets like Algi, Morjal, Charsubuddhi, Amirganj, Manipura, Banshgari, and Radhaganj are vending an array of exotic plants, encompassing fruit, forest, and medicinal varieties. The marketplace features an abundant supply of plants such as exotic 'akasmani', acacia cross, eucalyptus, belgium, and mahogany, alongside seedlings of indigenous mango, yam, jackfruit, lemon, guava, olive, papaya, coconut, betel nut, tej leaf, as well as certain medicinal plants like neem and agar.
While seedlings of akashi, mahogany, and other forest trees are priced between Tk 20 to Tk 50, saplings of fruit trees command prices ranging from Tk 50 to Tk 500.
Buyer Jamal Miah expressed that the current season is ideal for planting, both around homes and in vacant plots of land. He noted a slight increase in prices compared to the previous year.
Sapling seller Jasim Uddin remarked that the market's demand for saplings has translated into favorable pricing.
Abdur Rashid, in charge of the upazila forest department, highlighted that the Bengali months of Asadha, Shravan, and Bhadra are well-suited for selling and planting tree seedlings.
There's a noticeable enthusiasm for plantation among the populace, as evidenced by their purchases of diverse tree species from various markets. Moreover, the government is actively distributing saplings of fruit, forest, and medicinal plants throughout the upazila.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mo Mostafizur Rahman underscored the oxygenating benefits of fruit trees and the nutritional value derived from their fruits. He encouraged the planting of both fruit and ornamental trees around residences, as well as forest trees in more remote locations.
TDM/SD
