Bumper jackfruit production in Kurigram
Our Correspondent | Wednesday, 2 July 2008
KURIGRAM, July 1: Farmers are getting fair price selling jackfruit in Kurigram thanks to its bumper production this year.
Local markets are now flooded with jackfruits. But farmers cannot transport their produce to Dhaka and other parts of the country as cost of transport is very high this year.
Jackfruit is selling at Tk 20 to Tk 70 per piece in different markets of the district depending on the size.
About two kilometres of road in local Kathalbari Bazar under Sadar Upazila are now buzzing with jackfruit traders.
Growers attributed the huge yield of jackfruit to favourable weather. Soil of the district is suitable for jackfruit cultivation.
According to a statistics, there are about 1.0 million jackfruit. A jackfruit tree produces 30 to 120 fruits every season.
People from nearby districts come here to buy jackfruits.
Jackfruits are harvested during three months of Jaistha, Ashar and Sraban of Bangla calendar year.
Buds of jackfruit are locally called 'muchi' which appear about two months before the harvest. Sometimes bad weather or storm destroys 'muchi' at early stage affecting production.
Jackfruit is a good source of protein and other vitamins. A ripe jackfruit contains 1.8 milligrammes of protein, 0.30 milligrammes to 2.61 milligrammes of calcium, 1.07 milligrammes of iron, 0. 11 milligrammes of vitamin B1 and 0.15 milligrammes of vitamin B21, according to nutritionists.
Timber from jackfruit tree is also useful. It is used for making furniture. Green jackfruits are used as vegetables. Besides, seed of ripe jackfruit also is eaten as a curry item.
The growers of jackfruits in the district said that they could earn more if the fruits were transported to other parts of the country. They cannot preserve their produce due to lack of storage system in their locality. As such, the growers are compelled to sell jackfruits to middle men at a throw-away price, they said.
They urged the authority concerned to set up a preservation centre as soon as possible to preserve the jackfruits.
Local markets are now flooded with jackfruits. But farmers cannot transport their produce to Dhaka and other parts of the country as cost of transport is very high this year.
Jackfruit is selling at Tk 20 to Tk 70 per piece in different markets of the district depending on the size.
About two kilometres of road in local Kathalbari Bazar under Sadar Upazila are now buzzing with jackfruit traders.
Growers attributed the huge yield of jackfruit to favourable weather. Soil of the district is suitable for jackfruit cultivation.
According to a statistics, there are about 1.0 million jackfruit. A jackfruit tree produces 30 to 120 fruits every season.
People from nearby districts come here to buy jackfruits.
Jackfruits are harvested during three months of Jaistha, Ashar and Sraban of Bangla calendar year.
Buds of jackfruit are locally called 'muchi' which appear about two months before the harvest. Sometimes bad weather or storm destroys 'muchi' at early stage affecting production.
Jackfruit is a good source of protein and other vitamins. A ripe jackfruit contains 1.8 milligrammes of protein, 0.30 milligrammes to 2.61 milligrammes of calcium, 1.07 milligrammes of iron, 0. 11 milligrammes of vitamin B1 and 0.15 milligrammes of vitamin B21, according to nutritionists.
Timber from jackfruit tree is also useful. It is used for making furniture. Green jackfruits are used as vegetables. Besides, seed of ripe jackfruit also is eaten as a curry item.
The growers of jackfruits in the district said that they could earn more if the fruits were transported to other parts of the country. They cannot preserve their produce due to lack of storage system in their locality. As such, the growers are compelled to sell jackfruits to middle men at a throw-away price, they said.
They urged the authority concerned to set up a preservation centre as soon as possible to preserve the jackfruits.