Mir Khairul Alam, Satkhira:

Dragon fruit cultivation is gradually becoming popular in Satkhira. This year, dragon fruit has been cultivated on 22 hectares of land in the district. Last year, this amount was 13 hectares.

It has been cultivated at a large scale in Kalaroa Upazila, where about 7 hectares of land has brought under dragon fruit cultivation this year, sources said.

Md. Masum Hossain, a dragon farmer adjacent to Kazirhat Bazar in Kalaroa, said, “I have cultivated dragon fruit on 10 bighas of land experimentally. The demand for this fruit in the market is good and I am hopeful that the price will also be good.”

“Although dragon fruit is relatively less susceptible to diseases, the cost of care is high. To get good results, you have to select good quality seedlings at the beginning,” he added

Alamgir Hossain, who works in a dragon fruits’ garden said that, 10 to 15 workers work in a dragon garden every day.

‘If dragon cultivation increases further, then the job opportunities for daily wage workers will also increase.’

Kalaroa Upazila Agriculture Officer S. M. Enamul Haque told The Daily Sky that, ‘Satkhira’s soil and climate are suitable for dragon cultivation. We are providing regular training and technical assistance to farmers. Dragon is a high-value fruit; it will play a positive role in increasing the income of farmers.’

Agriculturist Md. Saiful Islam, Deputy Director (DD) of the District Agricultural Extension Department in Satkhira said, ‘The amount of cultivation is increasing every year. We hope that, this rate will increase further next year.’

He also said, ‘Satkhira’s dragon fruit is now being supplied to different parts of the country including Dhaka. If cultivation is increased in a planned manner, it can be a potential cash crop in the district.’