The area south of Bangladesh adjacent to the sea is called the coastal region. About 20 percent of the country's land area is in this area. About 30 percent of the total cultivable land is in the coastal areas. The world's largest mangrove or salt forest Sundarbans is located in this region. Sea, Sundarbans, beaches, coral reefs, islands, numerous rivers and canals, tides, river erosion, salinity, tidal surges, cyclones, wetlands, submergence, etc. have given the coastal region a diverse agricultural environment. Due to the salinity of the soil and land in this region, which is inundated by the tidal waters of the sea, it is not possible to cultivate many kinds of crops and fruits like other parts of the country. Located in the basin of the Gangetic delta, the region has survived various natural disasters and is emerging as a potential new crop production area. The coastal region has become a potential for future agriculture in the country. Commercial potential has also been created for some of the useful fruit crops in the region. In particular, fruits like guava, mango, coconut, white, cool, grapefruit, malt etc. have been helpful in changing the fortunes of many farmers.
If you go to almost all the houses in this region, you can see that most of the courtyards are full of different wooden trees like Chambal, Shirish, Mahogany, Lambu etc. Planting trees so densely that it is difficult to get sun in the house. This trend is more noticeable in Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Jhalokati and Barisal. Fruit trees are the abundance of English gab, coconut, guava, betel nut etc. in these homes. While enduring the salinity of the coastal region, expensive fruits are better white, recently Malta is also giving good yields. Therefore, it is possible to increase the production of many kinds of fruits if we can cultivate them in a modern way by selecting suitable fruit trees for home cultivation in this region. The coastal region is not as accessible as other parts of the country. Therefore, it is not easy to feed fast perishable products like fruits from Shibganj in North Bengal to the people of Sakuchia or the island of Monpura. Therefore, the fruits that are good in this region, must be given importance on the planned cultivation of those fruits locally.
About 26% of the country's population lives in coastal areas. Most of these people are poor. Mainly farmers, fishermen and workers by profession. Although there is land, it is difficult to cultivate diversified crops throughout the year due to salinity in those lands, especially fruits. The main crop other than aman paddy is not like other regions of the country. It is difficult to cultivate fruits due to salinity and low land. Therefore, the main opportunity or source of fruit production is the backyards of the houses in this region. In order to meet the local demand by producing fruits, first of all, it is necessary to give importance to planned fruit cultivation in different places of the homestead. After that, fruit production should be increased by planting orchards of cool, guava, banana, coconut, etc. on the banks of the low lands where fish pens have been formed. Then in the lands where wooden trees are being planted, agro forestry should be done by planting fruit trees along with wooden trees. Even in medium low paddy lands, by adopting special techniques, pyramid raised beds should be used to make occasional mounds of soil and plant fruit trees there. In low lands, where the tide is constantly flowing, canals can be cut and piled next to the soil, and high beds can be made for nursery and orchard planting in surgeon method. But before taking these initiatives, it remains to be seen which fruits are actually good in the coastal areas.
Fruits of the coastal region
Many fruits are now doing well in the soil and climate of the coastal region. Some fruits are already being cultivated commercially. Large quantities of watermelon are now being cultivated in Rangabali, Latachapali, Bhola Char Fashion etc. of Patuakhali. What is the best fruit in the houses of this region can be understood by doing a little survey around the houses and fences of these regions. It does not require much research. Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person. Recently, researcher Md. Ohiul Islam and his colleagues conducted a research on the houses in Bhola, Barguna and Patuakhali districts and presented their excellent results in their research paper. They found a total of 32 species of fruit trees in the homes of these three districts. These fruits are Coconut, Betel, Bilatigab, Mango, Jackfruit, Guava, Grapefruit, Palm, Mango, Tamarind, Plum / Cool, Jamrul, Kamranga, Lemon, Date, Blackberry, Dewa, Chalta, Litchi, Olive, Amalki, Ata, Kaufal , Bell, White Pomegranate, Sharifa, Gab, Orange, Malta, Kadbel and Golapjam. Fruit trees are scarce in the islands. For example, there are 19 species of fruit trees in the habitats of the island. Coconut trees are predominant in the islands. Apart from this list, some fruits are also being cultivated or can be cultivated in the coastal settlements, such as papaya, strawberry, banana, arbori or noyal, bilimbi, jungle, paniphal, amrul, banchi, lukluki, bungi, marma etc. There is a lot of success in cultivating cool, banana and arpali mangoes on the banks of the fence. Success has been achieved by cultivating coconut on the banks of the fences of Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira. Cox's Bazar, Bagerhat, Noakhali, Bagerhat are getting very good. Bilati Gab is doing well in Pirojpur, Barisal and Jhalokati. Good results have been seen in Noal and Bilimbi cultivation in Khulna. Maltese commercial garden has been established in Pirojpur. Paniphal is now being cultivated commercially in Satkhira.
There are some Sundarbans trees in this region whose fruits can be eaten. Even forest pickles can be made from those fruits. Especially Keora and Golpata trees. The fruits of these two trees can be eaten. Another Bunofal Mamakala of the Sundarbans. This tree also grows in the forest of the homestead. It is a popular fruit in Kalapara of Patuakhali.
345.333 SRY0