Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury
urged agricultural scientists to come forward to protect local fruit varieties and carry out extensive research on how to adopt cultivation method of exotic fruits.
The Agriculture Minister made the call on Friday while addressing the inaugural function of a fruit tree plantation fortnight and the National Fruit Exhibition-2018 at Krishibid Institution in the city. “We have to protect our local fruit varieties. Besides, we should find out the ways to adopt with the cultivation method of the exotic fruit varieties,” she said.
Matia also urged the scientists to work for expanding the time period of country’s fruit availability season as the country’s 60 percent fruits are found between May and middle of the August.
The countrywide fruit tree plantation fortnight and the National Fruit Exhibition-2018 began here with a theme of ‘irresistible progress of the country, fruits nutrition will give a new dimension’. The Agriculture Ministry has organised the three-day fruit exhibition beginning from today at Gias Uddin Milki auditorium at Farmgate. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haq inaugurated the fruit tree plantation fortnight and the National Fruit Exhibition as the chief guest while Matia spoke at the programme as special guest. Later, a seminar was held at Krishibid Institution to this end. Vice-Chancellor of the Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University Dr Kamal Uddin Ahammad read out a keynote paper at the seminar.
Director General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Mohammad Mohsin gave the welcome address while Senior Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah chaired the seminar. Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the Jackfruit as the country’s national fruit, the Agriculture Minister said jackfruit is a very testy fruit enriched with nutrition. Gazipur once upon a time was abundant with huge jackfruit trees, Matia said, adding that unplanned urbanisation has declined it drastically. “The people concerned are working to increase the number of jackfruit trees, and if it is possible, the production and extension of the national fruits will significantly increase,” she said.
A total of 81 stalls – nine from government organisations and 51 from private organisations – have been set up at the fair. Nearly 203 varieties of fruits, including 70 mango varieties, are being displayed at the fair. The fair will remain open for all every day from 9 am to 9 pm.
