In Bangladesh, dragon fruit cultivation began in 2014-15 on five hectares of land. Today, it is a profitable crop today for the 25,000 growers. At this point in time, the fruit is bringing home one-third of Vietnam’s $3.7 billion fruit and vegetable export receipts. Other than Vietnam, it is commercially produced in Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, China, Israel and Central America.
In Bangladesh, its consumption is increasing. “Every day its demand is increasing,” said Shahedul Islam, category manager of the supermarket chain Shwapno, which has started selling the locally grown ones from this year. “The demand for locally grown dragon fruit is huge as its taste is better than the imported ones,” said Naushad Alam, owner of an online fruit shop Royal Fruitz.
Production will increase and the price will come down further in the local market, Alam added. About 300 hectares of land across the country is dedicated to the farming of dragon fruit, according to the agriculture ministry.
According to dhakatribune.com, this year, the acreage has been expanded to 500 hectares, which would yield about 5,400 tonnes of the fruit.
