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Mahmudul Hasan Sabuj, a resident of Mulaid village in Telihati Union of Sreepur Upazila, Gazipur, has been enjoying success in cultivating glue-free (gumless) jackfruit on his cropland, which is available year-round.
Local sources said Sabuj imported 40 glue-free jackfruit seedlings from India. The yield begins three months after planting.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), many people are encouraged by the cultivation of gumless jackfruit of Sabuj and are seeking advice from the department.
People can consume jackfruit throughout the year, and he is gaining recognition as a grower of juicy gumless fruits. He was inspired to grow gumless jackfruit after watching YouTube videos.
Initially, Sabuj faced difficulties in collecting jackfruit seedlings, but later he imported the seedlings from India. The yield begins three months after planting.
Md Jillur Rahman, senior scientific officer at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), is the inventor of the method for growing gumless jackfruit. He has been researching the expansion of jackfruit cultivation in the country for a long time.
He has taken the initiative to visit different areas of the country to collect different non-seasonal varieties of jackfruit and distribute them among the farmers. Different types of jackfruit are produced in our country. The taste also varies from region to region. The quality of the plants is not very qualityful which are grown from seedlings. If seedlings are produced by grafting, the quality will remain intact.
Jillur said, "Our national fruit was once neglected, but now it has become versatile over time. Entrepreneurs are emerging around jackfruit cultivation. Farmers should be encouraged to adopt the grafting method for jackfruit, considering various factors. With this method, the fruit becomes available within a few days of planting."
Sumaiya Sultana Banna, agriculture officer, Sreepur Upazila, said, "Our local variety of jackfruit is glutinous and yields once a year. However, the newly developed variety is non-glutinous and yields very fast. Farmers are encouraged to cultivate this all-season jackfruit, and we recommend its cultivation."
Md Rafiquil Islam, assistant health inspector, at Sreepur Upazila Health Complex, mentioned that the all-season jackfruit, usually a Vietnamese breed, results in small saplings and is very sweet and delicious. Cultivating this breed could meet the nutritional needs of the country and potentially allow for exports.
According to scientists from the Fruit Department and Horticulture Research Center (HRC) of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), the government is emphasising the development of high-yielding varieties of fruits and crops to ensure food security and nutrition for the growing population. They are focusing on achieving good yields in a short time through grafting methods, previously successful with mangoes and litchis.
BARI Director General Debashish Sarkar stated that the newly developed variety of jackfruit has been well received at the field level. It is described as tasty, sweet, and enjoyable to eat.
