DHAKA: The government has set the target production of popular citrus fruits malta and orange at 40,000 metric tons in next four years.

Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials said foreign currencies worth Tk 400 crore can be saved if the target is reached.   

Orange and malta will be cultivated in modern method in as many as 123 upazilas under 30 districts of 7 divisions of the country, said DAE sources.

As many as 5,000 orchards will be created in 30 districts under a project roughly titled "citrus and orange development". 

Popular Bari malta-1 saplings and all necessary facilities will be provided to farmer level, Agriculture ministry's planning division-2 deputy chief Dipak Kumar sarker told Banglanews.

Field work will be started this year, he added.
 
Agriculture ministry joint secretary Mahbubul Islam told Banglanews that importation of foreign malta and orange will minimize if the project can be implemented on time.

However, sources said that malta and orange worth Tk 13 crore was produced in Bangladesh in 2016-17 fiscal year.

BDST: 1716 HRS, APR 29, 2019
SI/SMS