Hiru of Pirojpur is successful in 'Avocado' cultivation
Md. Lokman Hakim Hiru, an amateur agricultural entrepreneur, has achieved great success and response by cultivating the foreign fruit 'Avocado' in the soil of Pirojpur. He is a retired army personnel. His fruit garden is adorned with green colored nutritious 'Avocado'.
Nazirpur is a small upazila in the north of Pirojpur district. The soil, weather and climate here are suitable for the production of different varieties of local and foreign fruits, so the farmers are inclined to cultivate new fruits.
The soil here has produced malta, pineapple, chuijal, apple, foreign mango, dragon and the latest 'avocado' fruit which has created a lot of excitement in the area. So those who have fallow land in that village are now coming forward to cultivate this foreign fruit.
Md. Sharif, an educated young man of this village, left his job and farmed ‘white fish’ in his own land. Apart from this, he has a cow and poultry farm. Now he is the owner of lakhs of money.
Md Sharif Hossain, a young man, told Barta24.com that there is still a lot of fallow land in their house. He will also build an 'Avocado' orchard like Hiru uncle.
'Avocado' is one of the foreign fruits that are currently growing in popularity in Bangladesh. The original place of production of this fruit is Mexico and Guatemala. The fruit is rich in protein, minerals and vitamins A, C, E and K. This year retired army personnel Md. Lokman Hakim Hiru responded by producing this fruit.
'Avocado' looks like a guava or pear in size. A fruit weighs about 300 to 700 grams. Avocados are sold in fruit shops of various big cities including Dhaka. However, the price is high due to its high nutritional value. In the market, per kg is sold from Tk. 1000 to Tk. 1200 and Tk.1800.
Former army personnel Lokman Hakeem Hiru said that his younger brother, an army man, was there due to his service in Congo. Later, while returning home, he collected 12 seeds of 'Avocado' from there. Later he brought it to his village and planted it. Among them, 8 seed seedlings were destroyed in the storm. The remaining four trees have yielded abundantly this year.
Bijan Krishna Howladar, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of East Banyari Block of Sheikhmatia Union, Nazirpur Upazila of Pirojpur District, told Barta24.com that the 'Avocado' fruit is a fruit of the African region. Cultivation of this fruit has not yet started in Bangladesh. However, some of those who have preconceived notions about 'Avocado' have planted it in their backyard. Nutrient requirements are much higher than other fruits and have medicinal properties. This fruit is very important especially for those who have a weak heart. It also prevents cancer