Strawberry farming: gains popularity in northregion in Bangladesh

BANGLADESH - Strawberry farming has started gaining popularity everywhere in northern region for the last couple of years as the fruit has tremendous economic prospect for the grassroots farmers.Many farmers, including the amateur ones, have been showing interest to cultivate strawberry and searching for its saplings during the current plantation season that will continue till middle of this month. Talking to BSS on Monday, concerned experts said the growers' level extension of strawberry cultivation as well as its higher value could bring a new dimension to the country's agriculture. Referring to the bright prospects of strawberry cultivation in Bangladesh except the coastal districts, the experts called for an effective motivational campaign for commercial farming of the soft red-juicy fruit. Professor Dr. Monzur Hossain of Botany Department of Rajshahi University, the pioneer of strawberry research and variety innovation in Bangladesh, said huge enthusiastic growers are coming here from different parts of the country to collect strawberry saplings every day. "We have already sold 45,000 saplings to 105 farmers out of around 75,000 to 80,000 saplings produced at my farm against the estimated demand for about two lakh," Dr Hossain said adding, "We were astonished by witnessing the farmers' interest in this field. Whereas, he said some 3,500 saplings were sold to 35 farmers during the last season. The cultivation process of the cash crop is similar to potato, tomato and brinjal, but its market value is much higher. He said Genetic Engineering Laboratory under Botany Department of RU innovated three varieties of strawberry through applying tissue culture method for the first time in Bangladesh. In the demonstration plot, they were found suitable for the country's soil and environment. Joint Director of BADC Sarder Salahuddin, who is the president of Bangladesh Strawberry Association (BSA), said one kg of locally produced strawberry is being sold at Taka 1,000 to Taka 1,200 in different markets in the capital city at present. Strawberry is rich in varieties of lifesaving proteins as well as vitamin A, C and E, folic acid, selenium, calcium, polyfenol, alagic, feralic and kumaric acid and cuertcitin, janthomycin and phytostebol. Some of these nutrients can prevent cancer and AIDS, he added. He said emphasis should be given to dissemination of technological ideas about strawberry farming and its marketing process side by side with innovation of ways and means for further expansion of cultivation of this cash crop. "We have no alternative to bring diversification in the agricultural activities and to detect the potential fields in the greater interest of bolstering the agricultural economy," Sarder Salahuddin viewed and suggested more need-based supports for the farmers to make the strawberry farming more popular in the country. Due attention should be given to proper utilisation of the existing natural resources in the agriculture sector for socio-economic development of the countryside, he said. Source:The New Nation 2008
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