Ashraful Islam Joy:

Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Sirajganj said, “Farmers are likely to be self-sufficient by cultivating native fruits on their lands and courtyards as those are easy to cultivate, high demand in markets and very tasty for consume.”

He told this, while inaugurating the National Fruit Fair-2025 at Muktir Shopan in Sirajganj Municipality on Thursday as chief guest.

The DC further said, “The people, who have no affordability to purchase exotic fruits, can easily take the taste of native fruits as most of those are very delicious as well as nutritious. Native fruits are not only tasty, those also play vital role in fulfilling the demand of nutrition for human health. So, there is no alternative of farming native varieties of fruits.”

He also said, “Such type of fruit fair will inspire the farmers to cultivate fruits in which they can supply the fruits out of the country after meeting local demands. It will help to earn foreign revenues for our country. If the dream is truth, local farmers will be self-sufficient as well as economic wheel of the country will be more escalated.”

He urged all the respective officials and traders to encourage the farmers in cultivating huge quantities of native fruits.

The programme was presided over by Ahsan Shaheed Sarker, Deputy Director (DD) of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Sirajganj.

The theme of this year’s 3-day National Fruit Fair, which will continue till Saturday, is- “Eat more local fruits, let’s plant fruits bearing trees”.

More than 10 stalls have been set up at the fair to display and sell various types of indigenous fruits including mango, jackfruit, litchi, guava, jam, tamarind, bell, pomegranate, palm and latkon. Fruit seedlings are also sold and displayed at the fair for the buyers and visitors.

Various officials from DAE, local farmers, students and representatives of various social organizations were also present at the inaugural function.