Khagrachhari farmers thrive as papaya farming brings economic change

A young farmer, Remrachai Marma, has turned the tide for his village in the district by achieving success in papaya cultivation, inspiring a wave of agricultural transformation in his community. Situated in the remote Manikchhari Durchhari village, Marma's success story is a beacon of hope for many, as the entire village, once plagued by poverty, now thrives economically through papaya farming. Located around 10 kilometers northeast of the Manikchhari upazila headquarters, Durchhari village is home to 60 families. Just five years ago, the majority of villagers faced harsh poverty. However, Remrachai Marma, a 22-year-old farmer, changed the trajectory of his life and his community by venturing into papaya cultivation.

Marma's journey began in 2021, when he planted a small garden of 200 papaya trees while still a student. Despite failing his secondary examination in 2023, Marma made a pivotal decision to leave school and focus entirely on agriculture. Over time, his farm expanded to 3,000 papaya trees spread across 10 acres of land. This year alone, Marma has earned a remarkable Taka 20 lakh from his papaya crop, with an additional Taka 5 lakh worth of fruit still growing on his trees. He plans to expand his farm with 3,000 more seedlings in the near future.

One key turning point came when Marma shared a photo of his papaya garden on social media during a trip to Manikchhari market. The post caught the attention of traders from Dhaka, marking the start of a steady flow of business. "That was when things really took off for me," Marma shared, saying that his success has since inspired many others in the area. Remrachai Marma's success has had a ripple effect on the entire Durchhari village. Once reliant on jute farming, which often left families struggling, villagers are now thriving from the fruits of papaya cultivation. 

Farmers, including Marma's neighbor Rabai Marma, are following in his footsteps. Rabai, who cultivates Green Lady hybrid papayas, invested Taka 40,000. With favorable conditions and a good market price, Rabai anticipates selling papayas worth several lakh of taka. Rabai Marma's success has sparked further interest, with farmers like Anghalapru Marma also investing in papaya cultivation, hoping to make significant profits.

The success stories coming out of Durchhari village have not only boosted the economy of the local community but have also inspired people from neighboring areas, including the Sadar Upazila. Joyram Chakma and Kalparanjan Chakma, for example, have transformed four and a half acres of fallow land into a lucrative papaya farm. With an investment of Taka 15 lakh, they have already sold papayas worth Taka 65 lakh, and they continue to expand their sales across Chattogram, Feni and Dhaka.

Debabrata Chakma, a young farmer from the area, also took inspiration from Marma's success. Debabrata Chakma now cultivates papayas on 30 acres of land, earning between Tk 5,000 and Tk 8,000 per week. Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Deputy Director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said that the success of Remrachai Marma has led to a marked reduction in unemployment in Durchhari village. "If youth like Remrachai Marma continue to lead by example, papaya farming will be a powerful tool for economic development and job creation," he said.

Currently, around 436 hectares of land in the district are dedicated to papaya cultivation, with a target production of 6.5 metric tons this year. The district is home to approximately 350 papaya farmers, and the Agriculture Department continues to provide advice and support to further boost the industry.