A ray of hope for Bandarban

Originated from Mexico, and nowadays common in Southeast Asia and China, Dragon fruit farming is getting popular among the farmers in the hills of Bandarban.

The farmers of Chimbuk hill, Balaghata, Kulang, Rowangchhari, Naikhyangchhari and Ruma are cultivating the fruit for its growing demand among Bangladeshis.

The fruit is now also being exported after meeting local demand, said farmers.

Saplings of the fruit grow with the support poles and require less irrigation. Growers in the hill district are getting expected yields as the land in the area is suitable for growing the fruit.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the fruit has been cultivated on 35 hectares land this year in Bandarban Sadar upazila alone. More than 500 tonnes of fruit have been harvested from 20 hectares of land.

Toyo Mro of Chimbuk hill’s Basantapara is one of the successful dragon farmers.

Toyo cultivated 300 dragon fruit plants on a hillslope in 2016.

Following instruction of Horticulture Centre officials, he took proper care of the dragon fruit plants and harvested a good yield at the end of year.

Toyo harvested 15 maund of fruits from 300 plants and made good profit.

A kilogram of dragon fruit is sold at Tk 350 to 400 in local markets.

Being successful, Toyo planned to expand his cultivation.

In 2017, he set up 410 polls on an acre of new land while the horticulture centre provided him with 50 more polls. He grew 1,840 dragon plants at a cost of Tk 4 lakh.

Government officials and tourists from several areas of the country including Dhaka and Chattogram visits him to buy the fruit regularly.

Many farmers in the district started to cultivate the fruit on their land lured by prospective profits, said Toyo.

Mel Thang Bwam, a farmer of Rowangchhari said he had cultivated Dragon plants on his 5 acres of land.

The fruits have grown well in the orchard, he added.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, now prices of fruits are not good, he also said.

If the fruits could be stored, the farmers of the hill district would be benefited, he said.

The agriculture department said dragon plants start bearing fruits one year after planting saplings. Growers can begin harvesting fruits from March-April and continue until November-December. Basically, dragon is a fruit of all seasons. That is why the farmers of hill district are interested to cultivate dragon fruits.

Deputy Director of Bandarban Department of Agricultural Extension AKM Nazmul Haque said cultivation of dragon fruits are increasing in Bandarban rapidly as it yields more profit than other cultivations.

“We are providing all kinds of supports to the growers,” he also said.