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Behind the Scene

From Satkhira
The Hybrid Nursery: A success story
Abu Ahmed

Nursery business has now not only changed the lot of many, but it has also received high recognition through the National Tree Plantation Award for 2005 given to a nursery owner.

The Hybrid Nursery of Puratan Satkhira in the town owned by Nurul Amin, once a poor jobless person, has been awarded the National Tree Plantation Award for 2005 for his outstanding contribution in tree plantation.

Prime Minster Begum Khaleda Zia handed over the prestigious award to Nurul Amin of Puratan Satkhira at a colorful inaugural ceremony of the National Tree Fair'06 held in Dhaka on June 5.

He got the Award as he had made a significant contribution to changing traditional mango and fruit trees in the country with delicious and high yielding varieties that created a great enthusiasm among the people of the area.

The Forest Department selected his nursery-'The Hybrid Nursery' for the award in recognition of his achievement in tree plantation.

Nurul Amin, 35, son of Abdul Mazed of Puratan Satkhira once a jobless educated youth, has not only changed his lot but also contributed a lot in expanding nursery business and has attracted many people in planting high yielding fruit and timber trees in the district which opened the door of fortune for many poor people.

An affluent nursery businessman Nurul Amin is now an example for many in the area for his outstanding contribution to popularising hybrid mango and fruit-bearing sapling plantation.

Due to poverty Nurul Amin could not continue his higher studies and after passing HSC examination in 1990, he like other unemployed youths tried to get a job to maintain his family but failed.

Then he decided to set up a nursery and told his father to give him some money. Finding Nurul Amin determined, he agreed reluctantly.

He started a small nursery yard and he changed his life after converting his three decimal courtyard into a nursery in 1993.

Collecting traditional saplings grown in and around village markets and rural areas in the district, he was able to
change those into high yielding varieties in his nursery.

His efforts not only increased high yielding mango production but also opened the door of prosperity for many, as the growers began to earn large profit by cultivating high yielding varieties of fruit and timber.

Nurul Amin's name spread in the area because of his remarkable success in this field.

He initially earned Tk. 7000 from his nursery which encouraged him to go forward. At one time he became frustrated as he was unable to expand his nursery due to lack of capital.

But fortune smiled on him when a national NGO Association for Social Advancement (ASA) came to rescue the frustrated youth. It sanctioned Tk. 50,000 as loan for expanding his nursery in 2003. He then leased 50 bighas of land to expand his nursery. He also employed over 78 people in his nursery, most of whom were women.

Now his nursery is famous for all types of saplings of high yielding mango and other fruit and timber trees.

Besides helping increase tree plantation, Nurul Amin says, he is making a significant contribution to changing traditional fruit trees in the area with good and high yielding varieties. He supplies saplings of mango plants like Amrapali, Mallika, Himsagar, Langra, Gopalbhog and Fazli to many persons.

Saplings are also supplied to Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagonj, Barishal, Jesore, Khulna, Faridpur and other districts.

He earns about Tk. 3 lakh from his nursery annually which is enough to maintain his family.

He hopes to earn around Tk. 5 lakh from his expanded nursery in near future.

“I earned about Tk. 45,000 at the initial stage when the total expenditure was around Tk. 8000.”

“I expanded the nursery to 50 bighas”, Nurul Amin told this correspondent during a recent visit to his nursery.

“Seeing my success, many people set up gardens and planted Amropoli and Mallika over the years. Many garden owners earned good profit this year,” he said. “I am happy to contribute to the tree plantation program in our country”, he said.

He also thanked the Forest Department for recognizing his efforts awarding him the prestigious National Tree Plantation Award for 2005. He also thanked ASA for rendering its help to him.

Many others in the district have been encouraged by his success.

There are at least 2195 nurseries in urban and rural areas in Kalaroa, Satkhira Sadar, Debhata, Shyamnagar, Tala, Assassuni and Kaligonj upazilas, according to a survey done by this correspondent.

These are supplying saplings of timber, fruit and flower plants to many individuals and institutions.