This expensive fruit strawberry is grown mainly in Russia and America. It is also cultivated in the Arab countries of Egypt. Beyond Russia, America, Egypt, this strawberry fruit is now being cultivated in Ishwardi, a city of litchi.
Nazrul Islam, son of Abdul Quddus of Paschimpara Baktarpur village in Salimpur union of the upazila, started cultivating strawberries for the first time in 2014 in Ishwardi. Gradually he became experienced in cultivating this fruit. At present Nazrul Islam is the only strawberry grower in Ishwardi. While visiting Rajshahi, Nazrul Islam saw a farmer cultivating this fruit and was inspired to cultivate strawberries.
Strawberry fruit looks like litchi. This fruit is nutritious, juicy and delicious. There is also a lot of demand of this fruit. The soil of Ishwardi is suitable for strawberry cultivation. Although Nazrul Islam is currently cultivating this fruit, the officials of the Agriculture Department here are hoping that other farmers will also be inspired to cultivate strawberries in the future.
Nazrul Islam of Baktarpur village started cultivating strawberries on a small plot of land in 2014. This farmer increase the amount of strawberry cultivation as the demand and the profit is increased every year.
Farmer Nazrul Islam talked about who inspired him to cultivate strawberries. He said he went to visit a relative's house in Rajshahi in early 2014. There he met a farmer in the area who was cultivating a foreign fruit, strawberry. After meeting, he gave details about strawberry cultivation. Strawberry cultivation started in Ishwardi soil from that time. This year he has planted strawberry saplings on his own two bighas of land.
He said the best time to prepare the land and plant strawberry saplings starts in October. Strawberry seedlings can be planted till November. Flowering begins in mid-December. When it matures by the end of April, he collects fruits and sells them to fruit traders. Nazrul Islam said that it cost him Tk 1.05 lakh to plant strawberry saplings on two bighas of land including fertilizers, pesticides and labor. But he has to bring strawberry saplings from Rajshahi or Bogura. Strawberry seedlings are prepared in a well-planned laboratory there. In a question about how much money he used to buy a sapling, Nazrul Islam said it ranges from Tk 200 to Tk 250. This time he has planted 800 saplings in two bighas of land. He said that if the weather is favorable, four and a half to five thousand peach strawberries will be produced from these 800 saplings. One kg of 35 to 40 strawberries is selling for Tk 500 to 550. As such, the price of each strawberry is Tk 12 to 13. He hopes to sell strawberries worth Tk six to six and a half lakh this time. Nazrul Islam will gain profit of Tk five to five and a half lakh. Fruit traders from different districts of the country including Ishwardi, Pabna and Dhaka bought strawberries from the fields.
Ishwardi Upazila Agriculture Extension Department Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Saiful Islam said there is a huge demand for juicy nutritious strawberry fruits. There is not much cost in cultivation except the price of strawberry seedlings. This four month season fruit is more likely to be profitable in strawberry cultivation if the weather is favorable at the time of cultivation. This fruit will be planted not only in Baktarpur but also in other areas of Ishwardi in future.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said the present government has taken various steps to take agriculture and farmers forward. This includes training of farmers on high value fruit crops. With training and facilities, farmers are becoming interested in cultivating high value fruits.
Nazrul Islam of Ishwardi has shown success in strawberry cultivation. He also benefits from cultivating other vegetables, not just strawberries.