Fruit cultivation is steadily replacing vegetable farming in Bangladesh's Chaugacha Upazila of Jessore, driven by lower costs, better yields, and strong market demand, reports Bonik Barta. Currently, about 2,500 hectares of land are used for fruit cultivation in Chaugacha alone, with two-thirds dedicated to dragon fruit. Across the greater Jessore region, encompassing six districts, fruits are grown on 53,778 hectares, producing approximately 60,905 tons of foreign fruits annually.
Dragon fruit leads with 1,823 hectares, followed by Malta and orange on 820 hectares. Other foreign fruits under commercial cultivation include avocado, strawberry, cashew, rambutan, grapes, and longan. Local production has significantly reduced the need for imports, for example, 90% of dragon fruit demand is now met domestically.
The expansion is also creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs. One grower, Ismail Hossain, shifted from employment to dragon fruit farming and now cultivates around 1.6 hectares, earning between $5,100 to $5,900 per acre annually from fruit sales, alongside additional income from seedling sales. Innovative techniques such as artificial lighting extend photosynthesis hours, boosting yields and early flowering.
However, challenges persist, including high input costs, limited access to quality seedlings, adulterated pesticides, marketing barriers, and restricted access to government credit. Industry stakeholders believe that expanded financing and marketing infrastructure could further scale the sector. Currently, the foreign fruit gardens in the Jessore region hold an estimated market value of around $34 million.
Source: Bonik Barta