Home ›› 20 Aug 2022 ›› Nation
Madaripur Horticulture Centre finds success in cultivating avocado- one of the most nutritious and expensive fruits in the world- opening the doors to new agricultural opportunities in the country.
Avocado scientifically known as Persea Americana is a fruit from the berry family and native to the highland regions of south-central Mexico to Guatemala.
Avocados are cultivated in tropical and Mediterranean climates of many countries.
According to Madaripur Horticulture Centre sources, there are only 15 to 20 avocado trees in Bangladesh.
In 2018, three avocado trees were planted in Madaripur Horticulture Centre, however, one of them died and currently only two remain.
The plants at the horticulture centre are about 10-ft tall and a mature avocado tree can grow about six times taller.
Depending on the variety, avocados have green, brown, purplish, or black skin, and maybe pear-shaped, egg-shaped, or spherical with a large central seed.
The ones at this orchard are bright green coloured, pear-shaped and weigh about 500 grams each. Avocado has many nutritional values and is a source of many vitamins and minerals.
Commercially, the fruits are picked while immature and ripened after harvesting. The high nutrient and fat contents and texture of avocado flesh are useful for different cuisines, including salads and vegetarian diets.
As a relatively new cultivation, there is no end to people’s curiosity about this fruit and the trees. Locals visit the horticulture centre to buy the fruit and sometimes to just see the trees.
Many have also expressed interest in buying seedlings and planting them. The horticulture centre authorities expect to broaden the cultivation of this fruit by supplying saplings to the local farmers.
The two trees have produced more than two hundred fruits this year. Usually, avocado plants take five to eight years to bear fruit. According to the authorities, the plants bear fruit sooner if planted on proper soil and are nurtured properly.
The authorities said the soil of Madaripur is favourable for avocado cultivation. They expect commercial cultivation of avocado to expand in the district.
Currently, horticulture centres across the country are working on expanding avocado cultivation in Bangladesh. Horticulturists expect it to financially benefit the farmers of the country.
Md Rahim Haoladar, a resident, said he came to buy avocado after finding out the nutritional benefits of the fruit. “I also want to buy avocado saplings to grow the fruit at my home,” he added.
Mustafapur Union Parishad Chairman Sohrab Bepari said, “Avocado is a foreign fruit rich in vitamins and delicious to eat. Agri-entrepreneurs can profit from commercially cultivating the fruit.
Madaripur Horticulture Center Deputy Director Chairman SM Salahuddin said avocado contains 22 types of vitamins and various minerals as well as many medicinal values.
“Avocado can help diabetic patients as well as fight some cancer cells too. We want to expand the cultivation and are currently in the process of growing avocado saplings,” he added.