Home ›› 01 Sep 2021 ›› Nation
The cultivation of dragon fruit is picking up among Sirajganj farmers following the success of a local youth in Jhikira village of Ullapara upazila under the district.
Kamruzzaman Swapan, a government employee who started farming dragon fruit as a hobby a few years back, is gaining profit from selling the fruit.
His orchard of the fruit with colourful fruits and flowers in his village, attracts many visitors every day especially the youths, who come to visit and buy the fruit, also known as pitaya, and saplings from all over the country.
The fruit, being widely cultivated in different Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, was recently introduced in Bangladesh.
“After collecting the plants from a friend, I planted a few saplings in my garden as a hobby. At first, I could not succeed at all. However, after seeking assistance from some local agriculturists, I got a good harvest and has been in this business ever since,” said the trendsetter.
“As a government employee, it is sometimes difficult for me to make time to tend my orchard. But with the assistance of my wife, I am able to do so. We earn Tk2.5 lakh to Tk3 lakh a year from our orchard,” Swapan further said.
Kamruzzaman Swapan has also started a YouTube channel to promote his business and teach enthusiastic gardeners more about dragon fruit.
“Each plant can provide 15/20kg of fruit each summer and continue yielding for around 15 years if tended carefully,” he said.
“Many local youth have expressed willingness to grow dragon fruit. I want to help them cultivate this costly fruit that yields good profit,” he added.
Upazila Agriculture Officer of Ullapara Subarna Yasmin Sumi told The Business Post that dragon is a money-making and delicious foreign fruit, which has a huge demand in the world markets, including Bangladesh.
Due to availability of various species of dragon saplings in the country, there is a huge possibility for the country’s unemployed youth to become self-reliant through cultivation of dragon fruit cacti, she said.
“We are providing training, advice and assistance to dragon fruit farmers. If they come to us for any kind of help related to dragon fruit farming, we will surely help them,” added the agriculture officer.
Dragon fruit, which travelled from Central America to Asia, made its first arrival around 2013. Since then, its cultivation began in the northern districts —Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Sirajganj and Nilphamari.
Now the fruit is hardly considered foreign. Its cultivation has spread in many parts of the country with the favourable tropical climate of Bangladesh.
Ancient Chinese legends say dragon fruit was created by a dragon in a battle when it spewed fire containing the fruit. Notwithstanding the legends, the fruit has come to stay in Bangladesh, winning many hearts with its taste and vitamins. It’s good for controlling diabetes too, say health experts.
