The verges of the Pirojpur's highways have taken a new look over the past several years.

Locals have discovered the value in planting hog plum, known locally as "amra", which has turned the road shoulder in many places into a long, thin orchard.

"Traditionally we didn't know hog plum would grow well here," says Animesh from

Moddho Karfa village in Nesarabad upazila. "From seeing the success of neighbours I understood its potential as a fruit crop. I planted the trees myself six years ago."

"Nothing grows on the roadside," says hog plum grower Shamsul Arefin from Mugherjhor village in Nazirpur upazila. "We sometimes planted timber trees but they take so long to mature. So five years ago I planted hog plum along the road adjacent to my land instead." Nowadays his trees are bursting with fruit.

Not only, according to local orchardists, have roadside hog plum plantations proved a money spinner but the eye-catching trees have added beauty to the Pirojpur countryside.

According to local agriculture officials widespread planting of roadside hog plum stands began about 8 years ago. Within 3 years the trees began to flower and, unlike many other fruits, growers do not need to spend much to cultivate hog plum. Nor is their trouble in selling the fruit. "When our hog plums reach maturity, wholesale buyers arrive from different areas to buy them, says one grower from Pirojpur sadar upazila. "We get a good price for them."

Originally from the West Indies, hog plums, according to Nazirpur upazila agriculture officer Digbijoy Hazra, are nutritious as well as tasty. He says they are rich in vitamin C, calcium, carotene, sugar and iron.

"People's interest in planting hog plum trees is increasing day by day," he says, "They are planting the trees in their gardens, as orchards on their land and even along the roadsides.

Hog plum cultivation is profitable."