TANGAIL, Feb 15, 2023 (BSS) - Commercial cultivation of Noni fruit trees has begun in the district due to its rare medicinal quality and natives of the locality are showing interest to buy as well as start farming the fruit.

Babul Hossain, an Unani Hakim of the district, is getting appreciation for cultivating the Noni fruit tree, which is resistant to various diseases.

The scientific name of the fruit is 'Marinda citrifolia'. It is an African fruit that also grows in tropical regions, including the Indian subcontinent.

Babul Hossain bought 70 seedlings from Sylhet and made a garden on one bigha of land in the Pauli area of Elenga municipality under Kalihati upazila of the district two years ago by spending Taka five lakh.

After that, about 4,000 seedlings were brought from Malaysia and Africa. At present, there are 300 trees, big and small in his garden.

Among the planted trees, 70 trees have borne fruit this year. One tree will yield 7-8 kg of fruit in the future, he hopes.

This Noni fruit tree bears fruit for twelve months. Currently, this fruit is sold in the market at Taka 1500 to 2000 per kg. Per seedling is also sold at Taka 400-1000.

Many people come to see his medicinal garden as well as buy seedlings and fruits from the orchard.

Both the fruit and leaves of Noni tree are great medicine to boost immunity. Although the fruit is yet to be familiar among common people, various food and drug-manufacturing companies are marketing 'Noni fruit' juice.

Noni fruit is used for bone problems and uric acid problems, reducing both physical and mental fatigue, curing scalp irritation such as itching, rash, and even dandruff, treating breast cancer, increasing body immunity and reducing mental stress, cold, cough, fever problems. It works to keep the moisture of the skin and maintain its age of the skin.

Anwar Hossain, who came to see the garden, said, "I have never heard the name of this fruit. I know about the noni fruit from the internet and social media that this fruit and its leaves are used to cure gastric, skin and many others diseases. I came to see his (Babul Hossain) garden with interest. I will buy a tree and some fruits."

Mir Asaduzzaman said, "This fruit is very useful in allergies and bone joint pain. I will buy this fruit."

Babul said people do not know much about the fruit. Hearing about the Ayurveda qualities of the fruit, many people from this area and surrounding areas come to visit my garden. I think if people know about the benefits of this fruit, the demand of the fruit will increase to a great extent.

Deputy Director, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Ahsanul Basar said, Babul Hossain is one of our good entrepreneurs. His newly cultivated Noni fruit tree has already borne fruit.

This fruit functions as medicine for various diseases. The method of eating this fruit is very simple. A lot of awareness has increased among people regarding this fruit as it is greatly beneficial to health.

"We have come to know that this fruit even works to prevent cancer. The fruits and leaves of this plant are used to cure old rheumatic pains. Herb trees are decreasing in our country. We hope that more entrepreneurs like Babul Hossain will show interest in cultivating the Noni tree," Ahsanul Basar said.

The DAE promised that if anyone tries to cultivate Noni trees, he will help them.