Our Correspondent :
Profitable dragon fruit is being cultivated commercially in Chaugacha upazila of Jashore District. Once upon a time, dragons were planted in the yard as a hobby. At present, many people have become self-sufficient by cultivating dragons.
The farmers think that it will be possible to export this expensive fruit to the local demand with the help of the government.
Chaugachha upazila has always been famous for cultivating vegetables including paddy, jute, maize and wheat. Commercially, mango, guava, kul and several other fruits are being cultivated here.
At present, the farmers of this region are getting more profit by cultivating dragon.
Many farmers have started dragon farming on 5/6 bighas of land.
Many have already become self-reliant. Again many farmers are dreaming of becoming self-sufficient.
Shomoren Biswah Chowgachha Upazila Agriculture Officer said that, So far, Vietnamese dragon has been cultivated in 35 hectares of land in Chougachha upazila. Hakimpur, Patibila, Jagadishpur and Narayanpur unions have the highest number of dragon farming in 11 unions and 1 municipality. Patibila, Hayatpur, Muktadah, Niamatpur, Petvara, Hazrakhana, Dragon has been cultivated in huge bigha lands in Narayanpur, Barakhanpur village field.
There are huge dragon trees hanging on cement poles and tires. Some trees are in the process of flowering, while many trees have dragon fruit. Farmers engaged in garden maintenance.
Shahabuddin, a dragon farmer from Patibiliya village, said dragon fruits is a new crop for farmers in the region.
Having been cultivating for a few years, many have become the owners of lakhs of taka by cultivating dragons. He has cultivated dragon in 3 and a half bighas of land at Patibila field at a cost of around Tk 6 lakh.
Every tree is full of flowers and fruits. He has already sold dragon fruits worth TK. 2.5 lakh. He is dreaming of becoming self-sufficient by cultivating this fruit for a long time.
Abu Saeed Raju of Narayanpur village said he has cultivated dragon on one bigha of his land. He will start selling fruits from his garden next season.
Sahidur Rahman Badsha, a farmer from the same village, said, he has been cultivating dragons since 2016. At present he has cultivated dragon in 10 bighas of land.Initially, the price of dragon fruit was good, but now it is a bit lower, he said.
Md. Mithu of Singhajhuli village said he has cultivated dragon in 15 bighas of land in Narayanpur village field. In 1 bigha of land, it takes about 900 pieces of pillars made of rod cement, 5 to 5 hands. On the ground of this pillar, a dragon’s armor is attached to it.
It costs 15 taka to buy a good quality dragon cochlea.
Each pillar is fitted with multiple coaches. When fruit bearing is started, 20 to 25 kg of fruit is obtained from each pillar in a season.
If the market price is good, fruits can be sold for 4 to 5 thousand taka per pillar.
Undoubtedly a profitable crop.
He said dragon farming would increase with government patronage. Dragon fruit is very tasty to eat. This leafless fruit is round and red in color.
The origin of dragon fruit is in Thailand. This fruit came to Bangladesh from Thailand in 2007.
At present this fruit is being cultivated in America, Southeast Asia, South China, Mexico, Israel, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Dragon fruit has medicinal properties. It contains a lot of vitamin C. Dragon fruit is helpful in preventing heart disease, blood pressure and cancer. This very tasty fruit has become a favorite of everyone.
