The Regional Horticulture Research Centre at Lebukhali in Patuakhali is playing an important role in developing and modernising coastal agriculture. Run by the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), the centre develops new fruit and vegetable varieties suited to the south's climate and soil, and supports farmers through quality seedlings, training and entrepreneur development.
New varieties for the south
Research is under way on new varieties of bean, pumpkin, aubergine, cucumber and okra. BARI Brinjal-12, BARI Watermelon-1 and BARI Watermelon-2, developed at the centre, have become very popular with farmers. A new year-round variety, BARI Hybrid Pumpkin-4, has been proposed to the Ministry of Agriculture for registration.
This season the centre produced breeder seed of BARI Brinjal-12, BARI Watermelon-1 and 2, BARI Bottle Gourd-3 and 4, BARI Red Amaranth-1, BARI Stem Amaranth-1, BARI Hybrid Bitter Gourd-2 and BARI Hybrid Pumpkin-2.
Fruit and seedlings
The centre also researches and demonstrates varieties of mango, dragon fruit, guava, banana, jujube and malta. This year it produced 1,250 seedlings of BARI Mango-3, 1,400 of BARI Mango-4, 400 of BARI Mango-8 and 1,000 of BARI Mango-11, and it continues to produce and distribute seedlings of dragon fruit, guava, jujube, malta, coconut, litchi and banana.
Training farmers
Through training, field days, technology demonstrations and advice, the centre encourages farmers to use modern technology, and many are becoming commercial growers and entrepreneurs. Entrepreneur Sharmin Akter said she started growing dragon fruit at home after training at the centre and plans to expand. Local farmer Selim Mia said a three-day training showed him how to make farming scientific and profitable.
What scientists and officials say
Chief scientific officer Dr Md Alimur Rahman said BARI Brinjal-12 and BARI Bean-11 have been registered, BARI Hybrid Pumpkin-4 has been proposed, and work on okra, bean and other crops has advanced well. The centre is working on climate-resilient, high-yielding and profitable varieties for coastal farmers, he said.
Professor Dr S M Hemayet Jahan, vice-chancellor of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, said BARI Brinjal-12 is an exceptional variety that looks somewhat like a bottle gourd, with each aubergine weighing one to two kilograms.
Dr Mohammad Amanul Islam, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Patuakhali, said many southern farmers are already benefiting from the centre's research, especially its work on malta, lemon and other juicy fruits suited to the region.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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