RANGPUR, Sept 08 (BSS): The farmers produced 0.33 million tonnes of fruits worth Tk 9.34 billion during the 2016-2017 fiscal in all five districts under Rangpur agriculture region and earned well after meeting nutrition of their family members.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said some 40,000 farmers have achieved self-reliance through fruit cultivation that has become a profitable venture in the agriculture sector in the region.
"The farmers are expanding cultivation of fruits on commercial basis every year after getting repeated bumper production with lucrative price in recent years," said Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam, Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office.
He said the farmers produced 0.33 million tonnes of 41 varieties of high-priced, quick growing, high yielding, hybrid and indigenous varieties of fruits cultivated on 24,251 hectares of land worth Tk 9.34 billion during the 2016-2017 fiscal in the region.
Of them, they produced 79,667 tonnes of mango worth Tk 3.20 billion, 64,279 tonnes of jackfruit worth Tk 320 million and 13,285 tonnes of litchi worth Tk 1.33 billion and 16,990 tonnes of guava worth Tk 850 million.
They produced 93,122 tonnes of banana worth Tk 560 million, 4,972 tonnes of 'jujube' worth Tk 270 million, 17,592 tonnes of papaya worth Tk 180 million and 11,775 tonnes of coconut worth Tk 295 million.
Besides, the farmers produced 15,976 tonnes of betel nut worth Tk 1.60 billion and 17,437 tonnes of 33 other varieties of fruits worth Tk 735 million during the 2016-2017 fiscal.
"The total production of fruits might be around 0.35 million tonnes worth Tk 9.50 billion during the just ended 2017-2018 fiscal in the region as the field level statistics are being compiled now to get the final figure," Islam said.
Deputy Director of DAE Md Moniruzzaman said farmers are expanding fruit farming on their orchards and homesteads in Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari districts.
"The agriculture related departments and organisations are providing assistance to the farmers for expanding fruit cultivation to improve socioeconomic and nutritional statuses of the rural people to build a healthier nation," he said.
