Cultivation of avocado, a green-skinned and egg-shaped exotic fruit, is gaining popularity in Rajshahi, Chapainawabgan, Dinajpur, Bogura and some other parts of the country. The newest exotic fruit already hit the areas.
Agro-scientists are hopeful about the fruit which looks like guava or pear. They said that the fruit can easily be cultivated in the country. They are also hopeful of commercial farming of the fruit.
The exotic fruit was previously only available through imports. The fruit has highly nutritious. It is enriched with various vitamins, containing medicinal quality to resist various diseases. Officials of the Horticulture Centre and the Department of Agriculture in Rajshahi said that alongside with the mango, the avocado might also emerge as a prominent fruit in the districts in near future.
According to agro-scientists of the Regional Horticulture Centre, Rajshahi, the American-bred fruit has matchless taste and nutrients. Since avocado has a good demand and high price in the local market, farmers are being gradually interested to cultivate it. Some farmers said, “This fruit enables a grower to reap returns every year with low investments. We earn Tk 10 to 12 lakh in profits a year through farming of avocado.”
Zahurul Islam, Germplasm officer of the Horticulture Centre in Chapainawabganj, said that the seed of avocado was brought from America some 12 years ago and had been sowed at the Germplasm Centre in the district. Later, after a research of six years, scientists became successful in producing avocado four years back.
Dr Alim Uddin, principal scientific officer of Rajshahi Regional Horticulture Centre, said that the fruit could play a vital role in changing socio-economic condition of the farmers in the region. The cost for farming avocado is very low but the profit is high. As the climactic and soil condition of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj is suitable for avocado, there is a great possibility of expansion of its commercial cultivation, he added.
Saifur Rahman, deputy director of the Regional Horticulture Centre, said that the fruit is ripened after July when supply of mango and other indigenous fruits becomes short in the market.
He also said that enriched with various medicinal qualities, avocado keeps human body free from sodium, sugar and bad cholesterol. It contains all sorts of vitamins and minerals, especially phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese, vitamin-c, riboflavin and fibres.
