NARAIL, Jan 28: Rabiul Islam, a farmer of Dhariaghata village under Sadar upazila of the district, is becoming self-reliant by cultivating Morinda citrifolia (locally known as Noni fruit).
As Morinda citrifolia helps fight cancer, he has made a garden of the fruit, says Islam, who also works for the Jashore-based ACI agri-project.
"In 2021, I brought about 200 seedlings from India and made the garden on 15-decimal land. In 2022, I got fruit which was sold Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000 per kg. I grow African, Indian and Malaysian verities of Noni fruit."
Md Rokonuzzaman, officer of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Narail, said, "We appreciate Rabiul's initiative for the fruit production."
For being more profitable, the commercially-farming of the fruit is gaining in popularity day by day. Buyers and visitors are now flocking to Rabiul's garden to buy Noni fruit and seedlings every day.
Shovon Sardar, deputy assistant agricultural officer of Maizpara union, said Noni fruit is being cultivated for the first time in Narail. They are promoting to cultivate the valuable fruit and also other medicinal plant.
mahmoodnrl@gmail.com