Papaya is a highly demanded agroforestry crop in Hilly areas of Bangladesh. Naturally, different types of woody trees and bananas are the main products in hilly areas. Although, Papaya is popular and gets the status of a high-value crop in plain areas also as it has great demand as green vegetables as well as ripe fruit.
Papaya as Productive Agroforestry Crop
Every rural families has papaya plants in their homestead. Papaya is the part of productive agroforestry system. Farmers are producing Papaya in field and hilly areas for commercial purpose. For example, Papaya with ginger or any field crops is practiced in some areas of Bangladesh. It is more profitable compare to sole Papaya cultivation. In hilly areas as well as plain areas, Papaya is grown in the Mango and lemon orchard for getting extra income year-round. A common agroforestry model such as Papaya and other vine-type crops are growing in boundary of the ponds is seen in rural areas.
Suitable varieties available in Bangladesh
To get good yield by cultivating Papaya, one must know about the varieties of Papaya. Hybrid seeds and indigenous seeds are available in Bangladesh. Hybrid seeds come from abroad mainly. For example, Red Lady and Green Lady. Shahi Papaya is a native and high yield variety of Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute (BARI). Shahi papaya is sold both raw and ripe. BU Papaya -1 is the high yield variety released by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University. It is a perfect variety for agroforestry. Supreme Seed Company sells Top Lady Papaya variety and Lalteer Seed Company has two hybrid variety namely Babu and Sinta and an open pollinated variety namely Gazi. Besides, many locally grown papaya varieties are available, but there source is unknown. In hilly areas, Red Lady and Top Lady is very popular for commercial cultivation.
Papaya as a Climate-Resilient Crop
Papaya could be considered as climate -resilient crop if produced in the sack or tower or rings in the water-logged areas. As papaya is producing fruits year-round and bears fruit for up to 3 years, it could be good option for year-round nutrients sources of rural families. Moreover, it has good market value as green and ripe which will help farmers to get sustainable income.
In conclusion, Papaya cultivation in agroforestry system is beneficial, however, it should be limited to the early vegetative and late fruiting phases of papaya for minimizing the competition for nutrients. As we know Papaya needs regular fertilizers during fruiting time. Finally, Papaya in agroforestry production system would be more beneficial and economically feasible.
