Jackfruit farming area is expanding in Jhenaidah. About 725 hectares of land was brought under the national fruit farming in the current season to produce at least 16,000 tones of fruit in the district. The farmers might harvest better yield and earn more from the fruit, said the farmers and officials of the department of agriculture extension (SDAE) in the district.
Farmer Abdur Rauf of Khalishpur area of bordering Moheshpur area when contacted said having better prices and demand, he had expanded the farming on additional 20 decimals of land. Some other farmers have been expanding the area due to better prices of the fruit as well as higher timber value, he said. Another farmer Rabiul Islam of Bishoykhali area under Jhenaidah Sadar upazila when contacted said actually there was no major demand of the national fruit for past couple of years.
It had discouraged the orchard owners and they virtually did not care for the fruit bearing plants. But they started receiving almost better prices for the fruits in the last season which had encouraged them to take care of the orchards once again.
According to DAE Jhenaidah deputy director’s office in Jhenaidah, the farmers in 2020-21 season brought 666 hectares of land under the farming. They had produced 14,668 tones of jackfruit. Average production was 22.02 tones on each hectare. Upazila wise break up of farming was 141 hectares in Jhenaidah sadar, 50 hectares in Kaliganj, 90 hectares in Kotchandpur and Moheshpur upazilas each and 295 hectares in Shailkupa, while no jackfruit was produced in Harinakundu upazila of the district, DAE, sources said.
DAE Jhenaidah deputy director Asgar Ali when contacted said the farmers have been regaining their confidence on jackfruit for better prices of the fruits as well as handsome prices of its valued timber. Optimum production of the fruit might help meet the fruit demand of the nation, and, change the lot of the orchard owners partially, DAE deputy director said.
