The harvest of commercially cultivated olives in the hills have been strong this year, leading to widespread enthusiasm among farmers.
This tangy fruit was not previously commercially grown in Rangamati, but farmers are gradually starting to cultivate it.
In Rangamati, olives have been cultivated on 592 hectares of land, according to the Rangamati Agriculture Department.
This has resulted in the production of 6,200 metric tons of olives, with a market value of nearly Tk500 crore.
Each tree yields at least one and a half to two maunds of olives.
The good market prices have brought smiles to farmers' faces.
Olives are a popular and tasty fruit among the people of Bangladesh.
The fruit can be consumed both raw and ripe. However, it is mostly used to make pickles, chutneys, jams, jellies, and oil.
Due to the bumper harvest this season in Rangamati, olives are being exported to Dhaka and other districts of the country.
The farmers are happy with the good prices they are getting by selling olives.
Olive farming has added a new dimension to the rural economy, according to the Agriculture Department.
Agricultural experts say that the land and climate of the district are quite suitable for olive cultivation.
Olive trees can be seen in almost every house in Rangamati. If the cultivation expands, commercial growth could be achieved.
In the Langadu upazila of Rangamati, seasonal traders are busy collecting olives from the trees.
The wholesalers are going door to door to gather olives and then export them to different districts.
Langadu has seen a bumper harvest of olives this season.
In Gulshakhali union of Langadu upazila, farmer Mohammad Sajib said: "I have planted one olive tree in my yard. Additionally, I have created an olive orchard on two acres of sloping land in the mountains with around 50 olive trees. The trees started bearing fruit in the beginning of winter. The wholesale price is around Tk50 to Tk60 per kilogram. The cost of production is low, and the profit is high, so commercial cultivation is quite promising."
Farmer Mohammad Idris from Gulshakhali union said: "I planted 105 olive trees on three acres of land two years ago. The first harvest was bumper, and I sold olives worth 3 lakh taka from the orchard in the first year."
Regarding this, Md Moniruzzaman, Deputy Director of the Rangamati Agricultural Extension Department, said: "Olives are a tangy fruit that makes your mouth water. They contain vitamins, herbal compounds, fiber, iron, copper, vitamin E, phenolic compounds, oleic acid, and various antioxidants."
He added that although there are olive trees in all ten upazilas of Rangamati, there are no olive orchards yet.
He reports that this year, olive farming has spread over 592 hectares of land in Rangamati, producing 6,200 metric tons of olives with an estimated market value of nearly Tk500 crore.
The growing demand for olives is expected to further boost the district's economy, and the Agriculture Department is working to increase olive production.
Olives can grow easily in any part of Bangladesh, making them a nutritious fruit that can meet both domestic demand and be exported abroad.
