Bumper yield of Dragon fruit was achieved in the field of Md. Mashiur Rahman, of Jhalakathi district. After seeing successful farming of Dragon fruit, other farmers in the region are getting interested cultivating this crop.
Speaking on the occasion, Mashiur Rahman said that in 2022, he cultivated dragon fruit in his backyard. Although some fruits were sold in the first year, his field has had bumper yields for the second year in a row. He expects his field to produce 100 pounds of fruit this year.
He added that dragon fruit is being sold at Tk 300 to Tk 500 per kg. He sent this fruit to Barisal and Dhaka along with the local market. He hopes to earn more than five lakh Tk by selling its fruits this year.
About one million rupees has been spent on his field including fertilizer, medicine, fence and labor. About two to three minds are picking fruit from the field every week. So far, he has got twenty five thousand Tk by selling dragon fruit.
In addition to dragon fruit, he has planted Pui trees in that field as a companion crop.. He is hoping to get fifty thousand Tk by selling Pui.
Mashiur Rahman said that although the Upazila Agriculture Office did not provide fertilizers, seeds and medicines, he gave advice at different times.
In this regard, Upazila Agriculture Officer Riazullah Bahadur said, Dragon fruit has been cultivated in 1 hectare land in this upazila this year. The yield has been good. This fruit is not in the list of our agriculture department.