PIROJPUR, Sept 12: The district administration and the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) have jointly finalised the schedule for malta harvesting and marketing in Pirojpur.
According to the schedule, the Bari-1 variety will be harvested from the first week of September, while Thai Malta and FTIP Bau varieties will be harvested from the first week of October. Officials warned that any violation of the schedule will be treated as a punishable offence. To ensure compliance, police, consumer rights officials, and executive magistrates have been instructed to monitor malta trading and sales.
Additional Deputy Director (Crops) of the DAE, Mamunur Rashid Khan, said the production target for this season is 6,100 metric tons across 430 hectares of land. “Pirojpur’s fertile land has made it a golden hub for malta cultivation. Malta has already become the district’s branding product,” he added.
Commercial malta cultivation is expanding rapidly, with over 800 orchards now in operation. The main production zones include Pirojpur Sadar, Nazirpur, Kawkhali, Bhandaria, and Nesarabad upazilas.
Local sellers, however, complain of low consumer demand.
Malek Mia, a fruit trader in Pirojpur town, said malta is selling at Tk 60 per kg in retail, Tk 40 per kg in wholesale markets, and less than Tk 30 per kg at orchard level. “Despite the low prices, customers show little interest in buying the fruit,” he said.
District Marketing Officer Abdul Mannan Hawlader acknowledged the price crisis. “Current prices are not fair for farmers because production is higher than demand. We must look for new markets instead of relying solely on local buyers. During peak season, foreign malta imports should also be restricted to protect farmers’ interests,” he said.