UNB, Cumilla :
Farmers in the district have been reluctant to cultivate fruits believing the soil is unsuitable but extensive work by the Agriculture Research Centre is challenging and changing the old perception.
Cumilla is known for agricultural products but the district never made a name for itself as a fruit producer.
Things have started to change after the Agricultural Research Centre came up with new species of fruits suitable for the soil of the district.
The development has created a buzz among farmers who are scurrying to procure the saplings. It will not only benefit them financially but also help meet the local demand for fruits, the farmers said.
Seedlings of fruits, including mango, malta, coconut, Indian jujube, banana, and dragon fruit, have been distributed among the farmers. Sifate Rabbana Khanam, researcher of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, said they had to conduct research for a long time to ascertain whether the local soil is suitable for fruit cultivation.
She said they are optimistic about positive outcomes.
“The species we’ve invented are high-yielding,” said Chief scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center in Cumilla, Dr Obaidullah Kaisar.
“We’re optimistic that this will help popularise fruit cultivation in the district.”
Farmers in the district have been reluctant to cultivate fruits believing the soil is unsuitable but extensive work by the Agriculture Research Centre is challenging and changing the old perception.
Cumilla is known for agricultural products but the district never made a name for itself as a fruit producer.
Things have started to change after the Agricultural Research Centre came up with new species of fruits suitable for the soil of the district.
The development has created a buzz among farmers who are scurrying to procure the saplings. It will not only benefit them financially but also help meet the local demand for fruits, the farmers said.
Seedlings of fruits, including mango, malta, coconut, Indian jujube, banana, and dragon fruit, have been distributed among the farmers. Sifate Rabbana Khanam, researcher of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, said they had to conduct research for a long time to ascertain whether the local soil is suitable for fruit cultivation.
She said they are optimistic about positive outcomes.
“The species we’ve invented are high-yielding,” said Chief scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center in Cumilla, Dr Obaidullah Kaisar.
“We’re optimistic that this will help popularise fruit cultivation in the district.”
