Fruit production is on a roll

A quiet revolution is taking place in the country's agriculture sector. Gone are the days when an overwhelming emphasis was put on production of cereals. At least a segment of farmers are getting smarter to opt for cultivation of cash crops, mainly fruits. Apart from traditional fruit cultivation, they now produce several exotic fruits like dragon fruit, sweet orange known as malta, strawberry and even cashew nut. Agricultural landscape has also changed by domestication of high-yielding improved foreign variety of papaya and guava. But no fruit could compete with water melon in boosting production last year. Exotic varieties of this fruit are now grown almost round the year. Year-on-year increase, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), in growth of water melon has been recorded four-fold higher from 581,677 metric tonnes (MT) in fiscal year 2024 to 1.98 million in 2025. The localisation of water melon in the coastal areas with salinity posing a problem for cereal and other traditional crops has in fact done the trick. 

Sure enough, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has played a decisive role in promoting cultivation of water melon among farmers in the coastal region. But the spirit of farmers in shifting to cultivation of non-traditional varieties of fruits or other crops proves outstanding. Their adaptability to fresh initiatives of cultivation is praiseworthy indeed. At a time when paddy production is rarely profitable, opting for a change in crop cultivation would not have been possible if farmers were not mentally ready for the shift. Whoever could think of bringing large plain lands in the country's north under cultivation of tea known for lush growth in the hilly regions? But this is not the only success story in the agricultural sector. Exotic plums of different varieties have, thanks to the Bangladesh Agriculture University's Germplasm Centre, raised the production to 45,400 MT in 2024. Some enterprising farmers, mostly educated youths, have taken on the challenge of producing fruits including exotic ones to reduce dependence on fruit import. 

Thus a few such farmers have reportedly been successful in producing orange including Chinese orange and even dates like the varieties imported from Saudi Arabia or other Middle-East countries. So, there is nothing to be surprised at the increased fruit production. A report published in this newspaper on Tuesday, December 23 last, states that mango and a few other local fruits have registered a slight decline last year. That decline has been more than compensated by higher production of banana, guava and water melon. The yield of mango, jackfruit and lichi is dependent more on favourable weather than any other fruits like pineapple. 

Production boost of fruits is a clear signal of growing demand for those as food. Yes, the people here are undergoing a radical dietary habit. Apart from the poorer segment of people who cannot afford the luxury of regularly putting fruits on their dishes, others have developed a taste for as many fruits as are available. The nutritious benefits of eating fruits are almost a common knowledge. This country with a small territory has a problem of striking a balance between allocations of lands for growing cash crops and staple foods. Fruits and vegetables certainly make a dish complete but it should not be at the cost of required staples.