RAJSHAHI, Aug 2 (BSS): Educationists and agriculturists highlighting the salient features of dragon fruit, particularly its high nutritional and commercial values, expressed the opinion that there is an enormous prospect of its farming in Rajshahi region including the vast Barind tract.
There should be adequate measures of boosting acreage of the cash crop along with farmers-level motivation programmes.
"We have some foreign fruits successfully produced in Bangladesh. Dragon fruit is one of them," said Prof Dr Mozur Hossain of the Department of Botany in Rajshahi University.
Very recently it has been imported by Germplasm Centre of Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh and profitably cultivated in some districts.
The plant, from cactus family, reproduces from seeds and from branches (cuttings). But it is preferable to grow from branches because growth of dragon plant from seeds is found to be comparatively slower. Compost in loamy soil is favourable for growing.
Over-watering should be avoided as it may cause fruit-splitting, flower-dropping, yellowing of the plants, and slow shoot development. Regular mulching around the plants is also important.
The plant blooms only at night, which can affect the process of pollination. In such a case, its growth may be encouraged with the hand pollination technique.
Narrating its salient features Prof Hossain said dragon fruit is suitable for everyone to eat. Flesh and seeds are edible parts and they are eaten altogether. It supplies fibre which is digestive and helpful for healthy liver.
The rest portion of the fruit includes carbohydrate and water. A fresh fruit keeps a person fresh and fit for a long time. Dragon fruit is also used in beverage, making juice and as a flavouring agent in various foods and drinks.
It contains a lot of vitamin C, minerals and other nutrients. Dragon fruit contains more than three times the amount of vitamin C found in carrots.
The fruit has a leathery and leafy skin with a flesh that is creamy textured and studded with lots of tiny, black and crunchy seeds throughout. It is mildly sweet tasting and especially low in calories. The seeds are digested only if chewed.
