Strawberry cultivation to make farmers solvent

BSS: Experts at a daylong workshop here today said that strawberry cultivation could make the grassroots farmers financially solvent.

They also said that the growers level extension of strawberry cultivation as well as its higher value could bring a new dimension in the country's agriculture sector.

Referring to the bright prospects of strawberry cultivation in Bangladesh except the coastal districts, the experts called for increased motivation of farmers towards commercial cultivation of this soft red-juicy fruit.

Bangladesh Strawberry Association (BSA) and Plant Breeding and Genetic Engineering Laboratory under the Department of Botany of Rajshahi University (RU) jointly arranged the workshop on "Strawberry Cultivation in Bangladesh" at the RU Senate building.

RU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mamnunul Keramat addressed the opening ceremony as the chief guest with BSA President Sardar Salahuddin in the chair.

The main objectives of the workshop were dissemination of technological ideas about strawberry farming and its marketing process side by side with innovation of ways and means for further expansion of cultivation of this crop.

BSA General Secretary and Professor of the RU Botany department Dr Monzur Hossain, the pioneer of strawberry research and variety innovation in Bangladesh, gave an outline about this fruit and its economic significance.

Professor Dr Rafiul Islam of Botany and Professor Dr Aminul Haque of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension of RU, Professor Sugawera of Yamagata University of Japan and BADC Joint Director Sardar Salahuddin also discussed issues related to strawberry production and its market value.

They said the Gene Engineering Laboratory of the RU Botany department innovated three varieties of strawberry through applying tissue culture method. In the demonstration field's cultivation, they were found suitable for the country's soil and environment.

According to the experts, strawberry is rich in varieties of lifesaving proteins as well as vitamin A, C, and E, folic acid, selenium, calcium, polyfenol, alagic, feralic and kumaric acid and cuertcitin, janthomycin and phytostebol. Some of these nutrients can prevent cancer and AIDS, they said.