Dharmanagar, Feb 22, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Dharmanagar Feb 22: Nasir Uddin, a young man from Bitrakul Kala Gangerpar village in the Kadamtala block of North Tripura, exemplifies how self-confidence and hard work can lead to extraordinary success.

Although Nasir struggled academically and only completed his secondary education, he found a new passion after learning about ‘kul’ (Indian jujube) cultivation on social media. This sparked a dream, and Nasir decided to dedicate himself to agriculture.

In March 2019, Nasir purchased 200 kul seedlings from Kolkata and planted them on one kani (approximately 0.4 acres) of land. By January 1, 2020, his trees bore their first fruits, marking a successful start to his entrepreneurial journey. In that first year, Nasir earned an impressive Rs 6 lakh.

Nasir's determination remained steadfast even during the pandemic. He expanded his operation by acquiring 800 new seedlings and cultivating kul on five kani (approximately 2 acres) of land, increasing his number of trees to 1,000. Over the past five years, his venture has flourished, resulting in an annual profit of eight to nine lakh taka.

Nasir sells his kul from his home at Rs 100 per kilogram. Each tree produces 30-40 kilograms of fruit annually, attracting an average of 50-60 buyers daily, including wholesale purchasers at the same rate. To date, Nasir has sold about 120 quintals of kul.

In 2020, Nasir received Rs 10,000 in assistance from the Agriculture Department, along with an additional grant of Rs 18,000 for farm maintenance. The government also provided him with a pipe for irrigation.

Nasir's farm now features four varieties of kul: Kashmiri Apple kul, Bharat Sundari, Ball Sundari, and Tiger. He has diversified further by cultivating mango and dragon fruit, enriching his farm.

Not one to keep his success to himself, Nasir sells kul seedlings at Rs 100 each and trains new farmers. He has already helped establish new farms for five farmers and inspired 15 new entrepreneurs to start kul cultivation, who are now successfully marketing their produce.

Nasir advocates for young people to become self-reliant by cultivating their own or rented land rather than solely chasing government jobs.