In the quiet village of Dengargram in Atgharia Upazila, two HSC students have turned their perseverance into a "red dream." After two consecutive years of crop failure and financial loss, Md. Nurul Islam and Md. Abdul Awal have finally succeeded in harvesting a bumper crop of strawberries.
The duo began their venture by leasing 20 decimals of land with a combined saving of 2 lakh taka, earned from part-time work alongside their studies. Despite facing skepticism from locals and losing nearly 50,000 taka in their first two attempts due to poor yields, the friends refused to give up.
In their third year, the tide turned. Their garden is now flush with high-quality strawberries, attracting daily crowds. Thanks to social media, the venture went viral, leading visitors to travel to the farm to pick and buy fresh fruit directly from the plants at premium prices.
"The first two years were filled with disappointment," said Nurul Islam. "Now, seeing people enjoy the fruits of our labor is our biggest reward." Abdul Awal added that they wanted to prove that innovative entrepreneurship is possible even in rural settings.
While the current harvest is expected to cover previous losses and generate a profit, the young entrepreneurs face a capital crunch for future expansion. They are now seeking government support, modern technology, and formal agricultural training to scale their business and put their village on the map as a strawberry hub.
