Strawberry production in Bangladesh increasing

Why strawberry production in Bangladesh is increasing discussed below




Climate and Soil for Strawberry cultivation:

Strawberry thrives best in a temperate climate. It is a short-day plant, which requires exposure to about 10 days of less than 8 hours of sunshine for the initiation of flowering. The varieties grown in milder subtropical climates do not require chilling and continue to make some growth during winter.

Strawberry requires a well-drained medium loam soil, rich in organic matter. The soil should be slightly acidic with pH from 5.7 to 6.5. At higher pH root formation is poor.

The cultivation of Strawberry, a succulent fruit popular in different parts of the globe, has been gaining popularity in Rajshahi.

Commercial cultivation of strawberry has increased during the last couple of years. Farmers have cultivated strawberry commercially more than last year.

Prof Dr AKM Rafiul Islam of Department of Botany of Rajshahi University said strawberry cultivation is as easy as growing potato or eggplant.

Saplings can be planted in rows during the period between November and December every year and the plants start flowering within one month of plantation and fruits can be collected till March.
“Each plant bears around 250 to 300 grams of fruit and some 6,000 plants can be grown on one bigha of land,” Dr Islam said.

The farmers have brought around 800 bighas of land under strawberry cultivation which was 700 bighas in the last year. According to Bangladesh Strawberry Association, around 6,500 bighas of land have been brought under strawberry cultivation throughout the country this year. Rajshahi district is ahead of other districts in farming the fruit.

A large number of people, mostly unemployed youths, have become self-reliant by farming strawberries as the cultivation procedure is easier and more profitable than other crops, according to a BSS report.