After a five-year government project, field visits and discussions with kindergartens and agricultural officials indicate that most farmers have not seen the results of the Vietnamese coconut project. However, the demand for this coconut is still growing
Kazi Jashim Udin (right) Barista district trader, in front of a few coconut-bearing trees. Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
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Kazi Jashim Udin (right) Barista district trader, in front of a few coconut-bearing trees. Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
Five years ago, Kazi Jashim Udin, a trader from Babanganj Apzila in Barishal province, received 20 Vietnamese coconuts. According to the local horticultural center, each seedling will ripen in three years and produce coconuts, three times the size of the local species. Jashim received the necessary training.
Two of the seedlings died shortly after planting. Although others have reached puberty, only a few have, as predicted, given birth. “I think I did not take good care of the trees,” Jashim said.
He invested 3,000 ticks on each tree for fertilizer, pest control and irrigation.
Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
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Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
Jashim received the seedlings from the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE). During the annual fruit production and nutrition improvement project, DAE imported the seedlings for 525 birr and planted 500 in the main training allowance for local trainees.
According to project director MD Mehdi Mesud, DAE distributed 2,50,000 high-yield Vietnamese coconuts to farmers in the south and some woredas during the 2015-2020 project period.
This means that the government has spent more than Tk13.12 crore just to distribute the seedlings. What is the result?
According to various field visits and discussions with farmers, agricultural officers and nurseries, only a few lucky farmers will see good results.
A.D. In 2016, Dehatgati Union, one of Jashim’s neighbors, received the same number of seedlings from the same fruit and vegetable center. Following the training, he takes care of the seedlings.
Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
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Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
All the seedlings grew into trees. However, none of these saw flowers. His efforts and investment results have been zero.
Vietnamese Anomaly
In 2016-17, there was a strong tendency for Vietnamese coconuts to grow in the Bari region. That is why Rahat imported 32 coconut seedlings directly from Vietnam and set up a separate garden in August 2017.
All the seedlings grew into trees and began to bloom as intended. In October of this year, Rahat collected a good amount of coconuts from the trees.
100 were left to grow the first crop, and the rest were either eaten by family members or sold for 300 TK at retail.
Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
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Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
A recent visit to the Rahat Coconut Fruit This reporter found green coconuts on two of the 32 trees in the garden. Rahat growing coconuts are expected for reproduction. It sells each seedling for Tk3,000.
“I have invested a lot in this field and the price of seedlings has been limited. In the meantime, the demand is very high. I have received a large number of letters of interest from some local and foreign buyers,” said Rahat.
Babum Doa-based Babarganj-echoed Shamim Hawlarder Rahat, an agricultural trainer who owns an orphanage. “The demand for Vietnamese coconut seedlings is still very high. Many beautiful businesses and owners are collecting seedlings as the tree is small and beautiful.”
Moreover, these species are far ahead of the local species, ”said nursery expert Shamim.
One day before meeting with this reporter on December 1, he presented 25 Vietnamese coconut seedlings to a Bogura trader. Shamim collects various seedlings from importers and sells them for 1,000 birr.
Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
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Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
Why and how to plant Vietnamese coconut varieties?
A.D. In 2015, DAE introduced two varieties of Vietnamese coconut: Siam Blue and Siam Green, because short-lived, high-yielding and salty varieties are suitable for commercial development along the coast.
Although local coconuts take seven years to produce fruit, Vietnamese varieties bear fruit within two and a half years. The height of the tree when it comes to production is a maximum of one foot.
According to kindergarten experts, Vietnamese coconut cultivation requires special care from the outset: Mada (a hole dug for planting seedlings). A 1.5-meter-wide and 1.5-meter-deep well should be prepared with soil, dry organic fertilizers, and some chemical elements (replenishment) including boron, zinc and nitrogen.
‘Furadan’ should be applied to protect the seedlings from pests. After a week the seedlings need to be planted and watered adequately. The recommended amount of fertilizer every six months after planting the seedlings should be applied to the bottom of each stem.
Special species require special pest control measures. Pesticides that prevent germination, white swelling, rhinitis, and measles should be dispensed regularly.
Why low success rate?
Mujibur Rahman, Assistant Sub-Officer of Agriculture under the Babuganj Agriculture Office, is training at least 20 farmers under the Dergati Union. The trainees collected 20 Vietnamese coconut seedlings each for the DAE project.
None of them saw the desired results on special farms.
Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
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Photo Dead Sadikur Rahman
Despite the obstacles posed by the DAI Vietnamese coconut project, some fruit and vegetable centers, as well as private nurseries are growing demand for maternal seeds. The Bank of Bangladesh has come to support the cash-for-fruit development.
“Every seedling or growing tree needs to invest at least 300 ticks a year. But many farmers spend less than 150 birr. If the seedlings get enough nutrients, the results will be as expected,” Mujibur said. The investment covers the cost of fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation and labor.
According to various media outlets, between 2017 and 2019, Vietnamese coconuts are gaining popularity in Barishal, Barguna, Patukali, Pyrogjur, Bagarhat, Kulna, Dinajpur, Kushtia, Mehrer and some other districts.
In this regard, this reporter recently spoke to some agronomists. According to AKM Mohiuddin, DAE’s deputy director in Patukali, about 30,000 varieties of coconut have been distributed to local farmers.
“Some orchards have seen flowers and fruit. But many are more than five years old and have not yet seen their flowers. The negative effects are only due to lack of proper care.
These Vietnamese breeds are like hybrid cows. They produce milk according to their diet.
DAE Deputy Directors in Barguna and Cushtia, Md. Abdur Rashid and Susanta Kummer Pramnik, respectively, echoed Mohiuddin.
Despite the obstacles posed by the DAI Vietnamese coconut project, some fruit and vegetable centers, as well as private nurseries are growing demand for maternal seeds.
The Bank of Bangladesh has come to support the cash-for-fruit development.
In October, the Central Bank issued a circular to banks planning to distribute agricultural loans to Vietnamese coconut growers.
During this time, agricultural experts and nurseries advised the farmers to get the proper training and start cultivating different varieties by planning a beautiful investment and taking good care of the trees. Otherwise all efforts will be in vain.
According to MD Mehdi Masud, Director of Fruit Production and Nutrition Improvement Project throughout the year, Vietnamese coconut cultivation is possible only in some tropical areas with mild winters and sulfur-rich soils.
“We recommend Vietnamese coconut only in the barley region.