There are plenty of different types of tropical and sub-tropical fruits available in Bangladesh. The widely grown fruits include mango, jackfruit, pineapple, banana, litchi, lemon, guava, ata, ketbel, guava, amalaki, papaya, tamarind, watermelon, bungee, kaju nut, pomegranate, amara, jamrul, Olive and kool. There are many minor eatable fruits that are available both wild and cultivated, such as lotan, gab etc.
May, June and July are specially considered as the month of fruit during the preparation of almost all major and minor fruits in Bangladesh. Some fruits are available throughout the year, these are papaya, sofada, coconut and banana. Generally, the imported fruits include orange, apple, pomegranate, grapes, mandarin etc.
History of fruit tree plantation
Traditionally the plantation plant is planted to meet the needs of the family as the vineyard crop behind the homestead. In the subcontinent, Christian missionaries and European colonists of BC pre-organized cultivation of fruit gardens took a leading role. In the beginning of the nineteenth century, Litchu was introduced from China to India. The more branches of this tree are found growing almost everywhere but Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Jessore and Khulna regions produce good quality. During the coconut production during the whole of June and July, the South and Central zones grow in abundance; every tree has an average of 70-80 fruits; Fruits are available throughout the year. Dob is a popular beverage. In the middle of the eighteenth century, peasants from the tropical America were found growing in almost all the houses of the village. Available in the whole country, 50 species of which are grown in Chittagong, Comilla, Sylhet and Barisal regions. Fruit weight can be up to 20-700 grams; available in July-September. The most common and popular fruit is blackjam. A big tree Mature fruit is blackjam- color- black, long, half-seeded fruit; The fruit is available in July.
Since the beginning of the twentieth century many types of major and minor fruits are being cultivated commercially in Bangladesh. Most of the main fruit trees are evergreen types, among which, mango, jackfruit and coconut , 90% of the fruit grown in Bangladesh. The most famous fruit tree of the country is mango tree, there are about 3,000 varieties of mango tree.
The amount of land used for the tree plantation of fruit
Various varieties of fruits are grown in Bangladesh throughout the year. However, its climate and geology are more helpful for producing tropical fruits. Generally, the production of 9 major and 48 minor fruits can be noticed in this country. Their cultivation of land is 1,39,535 hectares. Total production is 47,34,145 metric tons. Among the main fruits, mango, banana, jackfruit, pineapple, papaya, litchi and cluster occupy about 79 percent of the land. 21 percent of the remaining area is cultivated in the second crop. Fruit production season Fruit production in Bangladesh is seasonal. Most fruits are produced in honey month. In the month of Baishakh, Jyoth, Ashar and Sraban, 54 percent of the country’s total fruit production is produced and marketed.
Out of the remaining 46% fruits are produced in the remaining 8 months. Among the fruits produced in the month of honey are mango, jackfruit, litchi and pineapple. The other fruits produced during the year are Boroi, Amra, Amalki, Bell, Safeda, Olive, Pomegranate, Kamranga etc.Papaya and bananas are produced all year round. Research needs to be made to ensure the production of other fruits in different parts of the year. It is possible to provide fruitful nutrients all year round even after producing mixed fruit grapes.
Fruit Export Business prospects
Seasonal fruits of Bangladesh are already being exported to the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman. Among the fruits, there are jackfruit, jaralebou, kool, mango, amara, olive and guava. Day after day their demand is rising in abroad. In the coming days, China, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, UK, Belgium and Netherlands, there are bright prospects of exporting Bangladeshi fruits to other countries.
There are currently 630 registered food processing industries in Bangladesh, out of which 30 companies are producing fruits such as jam, jelly, squash, fruit juice, pickles, chutney, sauce, pineapple, mango pulp etc. Some of their products are also exported abroad. The expansion of such industries is needed.
