Dragon farming has doubled in the region consisting of Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts during the last around 10 years.
Selling of the high-valued fruit has also risen side by side with increasing acreage. Taking the advantage of less water and minimum irrigation cost, farmers are seen cultivating the fruit with more interest in the Barind area in Rajshahi.
Commercial farming of Dragon, a cactus species fruit, originally from Central America, South America, and nowadays common in Southeast Asia and China, is gaining popularity in the region gradually generating entrepreneurship.
As a whole, the cash crop is being judged as lucrative because it can be cultivated round the year.
Many enthusiastic farmers have developed themselves as successful entrepreneurs through the Dragon farming in the region after the best uses of its suitable climate condition and topography.Shafiul Islam Mukta, a resident of Godagari upazila, said he has developed three Dragon orchards on 52 bighas of land in Gogram and Matikata areas.
He earned Taka 27 lakh last year and has also sold a Dragon at Taka 200 to 400 per piece based on size, quality and colour in this season.
Relating to the production cost, he said around Taka 2.60 lakh is required for Dragon farming on one bigha of land.
Abdul Matin, a farmer of Gofanagar village under Mohadevpur upazila in Naogaon, has set an example of becoming successful through Dragon farming in the area. Asadul Islam Helal, another farmer of Bidirpur village under Godagari upazila, has exposed himself as a new successful entrepreneur in this field.
