RANGPUR, Feb 25, 2019 (BSS) – Officials and experts of the Department of
Agriculture Extension (DAE) are expecting a bumper production of jackfruit
this season following excellent sprouting in Rangpur agriculture region.
“Excellent growth of tender jackfruit after massive blooming amid
favourable climatic conditions predicts its bumper production this time,”
said Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office here Khondker
Md Mesbahul Islam.
The farmers cultivated jackfruit on 2,877 hectares of land and produced
over 1.02-lakh tonnes of the fruit worth over Taka 51.20 crore in Rangpur,
Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari and Lalmonirhat districts of the region last
season.
“The farmers have cultivated jackfruit on 3,050 hectares of land this
time in the region,” he said predicting production of around 1.06-lakh tonnes
of the fruit worth Taka 55 crore if the climatic conditions remained
favourable during the next few months.
Islam suggested the farmers to take proper care of the growing tender
fruits and maintain cleanliness at the root level soil on the orchards and
homesteads to prevent attacks by harmful insects like ‘giant mealy bug’ for
getting excellent jackfruit production.
Talking to BSS, jackfruit growers Abu Hanif, Solaiman Alai and Mokhlesur
Rahman of different villages here said they were expecting a bumper output of
jackfruit as the tender fruits are becoming bigger in size following recent
rainfalls.However, they requested the authorities concerned to take early
measures for ensuring adequate marketing facilities for fair price of
jackfruit as they did not get better price even after getting repeated bumper
production of the fruit in recent years.
Fruit trader Babu Mian at Rangpur Bazar said bigger jackfruit traders as
well as their representatives from Dhaka and other places would communicate
with their local agents soon to purchase the fruit from the major markets in
the region. “I am expecting a bumper production and better business of
jackfruit this season in the region,” said local jackfruit trader Zahidur
Rahman at Paglapeer Bazar in Sadar upazila of Rangpur.Similarly, jackfruit
growers Aminur Rahman of village Najirdigar, Abdus Salam of village Mominpur
and Echhahaq Ali of Kathihara village here predicted bumper jackfruits output
this season.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md. Moniruzzaman said
huge buds appeared in over 95 percent of jackfruit trees and growth of tender
fruits is progressing superbly predicting bumper production of the fruit this
season.