Naogaon sees large-scale cultivation of dragon fruits

NAOGAON, Jan 18: Dragon, a delicious and nutritious foreign species of fruit, is being cultivated commercially in the district. It usually grows in the Southeast Asian as well as Central and South American countries.
The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said one Golam Rabbani, a horticulturist in profession, at village Guata of Raninagar upazila in the district has been cultivating the fruit successfully from the last two years.
At first, he started farming dragon fruit on 60 decimals of land on experimental basis. Later he cultivated the item on a large scale. He sold per kg of the fruit at Tk 400 to Tk 500 this year.
Seeing bright success of Golam Rabbani in dragon cultivation, some other farmers have also started to cultivate the fruit this year, the sources added.
Mr Rabbani said dragon fruit can be cultivated in small space with minimum expense. This fruit plant survives in poor soil conditions and temperature variations. However, tropical climatic region are best for its cultivation. The tree usually gives fruit for a range of 30 to 40 years, which is also financially profitable.
In different foreign countries, this fruit plant is treated as an ornamental plant as well as fruit producing plant. Dragon fruit is consumed as a fresh fruit or can be used in jams, ice creams, jelly production and fruit juice. This fruit also used in face packs.
One can easily attain solvency through the cultivation of this fruit.
Especially the youth forces can be employed in the process of expanding its cultivation, he added.
Upazila agriculture officer, Raninagar, SM Golam Sarwar informed dragon fruit is healthy and nutritious. It strengthens the immune system and is used in the treatment of diabetes. Medicine made from its flower and stem improves blood circulation.
The DAE is promoting the fruit for commercial farming among farmers in the district, he added.
    ritushar.ru@gmail.com