African Noni fruit grown commercially in Benapole

BENAPOLE, Dec 26: The commercial cultivation of African Noni fruit has begun in Benapole as it is rich in different medicinal values.

Israfil Hossain, 40, a farmer of Narayanpur village, is receiving praise for cultivating this fruit as a medicine for various diseases.

"I saw a report on YouTube that foreign Noni fruit is being cultivated on Bangladesh's soil. After watching it, I was inspired to start cultivating this fruit."

Deepak Kumar Saha, an official of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Sharsha, said, "The scientific name of noni fruit is 'Morinda citrifolia'. It is a fruit from the African region."

However, the fruit also grows in the tropical region, that is, the Indian subcontinent.

Noni trees bear fruit for 12 months. Currently, this fruit is sold in the market for nearly Tk 2,000 per kg.

Farmer Israfil said that its seedlings are also sold for Tk 500 to Tk 1,000.

He claimed that the leaves and fruits of the Noni tree increase the immunity of the human body although so far, very few people are familiar with this fruit.

He also said two years ago, he created a garden on 10 acres of land in Naranpur village of Benapole Municipality in Sharsha Upazila of Jashore with 150 seedlings.

He has also built a nursery for Noni trees on one side of the garden.

He has planted trees in the rest of the area, keeping a distance of 6 feet. He has 150 trees in his garden, both small and large. This year, more or less all the trees have given fruit.

To keep the garden safe, he has fenced the entire area with barbed wire. Many people come to visit his garden out of curiosity. They buy seedlings and fruits while they go.

Israfil also said people don't know much about this fruit. That's why it's not sold much in Benapole; some people come by word of mouth.

Since this fruit has many qualities, many people from this area and surrounding areas come to see my garden.

Israfil believes that if people learn about the qualities of this fruit, there will be a lot of demand.

Billal Hossain, who came to see the garden, said, "I have never heard of this fruit before."

"I learned from the Internet that this fruit and the leaves of the tree work for gastric and skin diseases, so I came to see the garden with interest. I will buy a tree and some fruits when I go."

Another visitor, Shafiqul Islam, said, "I came from a neighboring area after learning about this fruit. I couldn't find this tree anywhere in Jashore.

Israfil said, "I spent Tk 150,000 on making the garden. There are no other expenses. Only a couple will be spent on fertilisers and pesticides per year."

Apart from that there will be no other expenses. You can earn without any investment for up to 20 years.

He said the price of this fruit is high in winter. If you earn about Tk 5 lakh this year, you can sell fruit worth Tk 10 lakh next year. As the tree grows, the fruit will also increase.

Addressing new entrepreneurs, Israfil said, "Cultivating vegetables not only benefits people in business but also in success."

If anyone comes forward to cultivate vegetables with medicinal properties, including noni fruit cultivation, I will provide them with all-round support.

"If anyone from any part of the country contacts me, I will definitely encourage them. I will cooperate so that they benefit."

"This is a business. It will benefit people and there will be business as well."

Deepak Kumar Saha, agricultural officer of the Sharsha DAE, said that Israfil Hossain is our good entrepreneur. He cultivated trees of Noni fruit, which is a medicine for various diseases.

The method of eating this fruit is very simple. Awareness has increased among people. They are also collecting and eating them.

"In terms of quality, we have come to know that this fruit works to prevent cancer. The fruit and leaves of this tree are used to cure old arthritis pain."

Cooperation will be provided if entrepreneurs like Israfil Hossain come forward to farming vegetable plants, he added.

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