Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Known as the national fruit, jackfruit is juicy and delicious. Ishwardi jackfruit has been valued in different parts of the country since ancient times. Litchi cultivation has increased tremendously in Ishwardi over the past few years. This has reduced the jackfruit plantation. However, the value of Ishwardi’s jackfruit has not decreased due to its juicy and delicious quality. The jackfruit tree grows quickly due to the loamy sand here. The yield of jackfruit is obtained within a short period of time.
The nutritional value of jackfruit is much higher than that of litchi and mango. Jackfruit is a safe food compared to other fruits. Jackfruit crop does not require fertilizer-pesticide-spray. Due to natural and environmental reasons, there is no problem in jackfruit cultivation, even if mango-litchi and other fruits are damaged. That is why the farmers have expressed their opinion about the expansion of jackfruit cultivation in Ishwardi.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said that jackfruit has been cultivated on 160 hectares of land in Ishwardi this season. The soil here is very good for jackfruit cultivation so all kinds of advice and assistance have been given to the farmers.
One of the biggest jackfruit markets in the north is located in Ishwardi. During this season, huge amount of jackfruit is supplied to different districts of the country every year. There are jackfruit gardens in different areas of the upazila including Salimpur, Sahapur, Lakshikunda, Pakshi and Dashuria Union. Jackfruits are produced in large quantities in gardens. Ishwardi’s biggest jackfruit market is held every day at Joynagar Board Office intersection of Salimpur Union. This time because the price of mango is high, the price of jackfruit is also much higher than before. As a result, farmers are benefiting this time..
Abur Ali, the owner of Bappi fruit store near Jayanagar board office intersection, said that jackfruit is available in the region during the three months of Asadha, Shravan and Bhadra. Every day 4-5 trucks of jackfruit are supplied to different districts including Barisal, Patuakhali, Khulna, Amtali, Galachipa, Bakerganj, Khulna.