'Produce more non-traditional fruits with medicinal values’

They also expressed concern over the extinction of the trees of these fruits which are useful for maintaining environmental balance as well as beautification.

The daylong seminar titled 'Production, management and nutritional value of non-traditional fruits' was organised by Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council (Barc) in observance of National Fruit Trees Plantation Fortnight 2006 at its auditorium in the city.

In a keynote paper, Prof Abu Hena Mohammad Faruk, former dean of Bangladesh Open University, expressed concern over the extinction of non-traditional fruit trees.

He said as these fruits have less commercial values, much research had not been conducted on their nutritional values.

According to Dr Faruk the non-traditional fruits include Anola (Amloki), Hog plum (Amra), Carambola (Kamranga), Bael (Bel), Cashewnut (Kaju Badam), Indian Olive (Jalpai), Custard apple (Sharifa), Monkey jack (Deiwa) and Elephant apple (Kadbel).

Fruits like Guava and Jujube (Kul), enriched with vitamin-c, calcium and iron, are now largely produced and marketed at present, but these were included in non-traditional category even 10 years ago, he added.

Dr Rahim Uddin Ahmad, director of Cash Crops Wing at agriculture extension department, laid emphasis on planting mother trees of these fruits.

He also stressed the need for training on collecting and marketing of these fruits.

Speaking as chief guest Agriculture Minister MK Anwar urged researchers to develop such varieties of fruits that can be produced round the year.

Forest and Environmental Minister Tariqul Islam called for creating mass awareness for gardening and marketing of non-traditional fruits.

Presided over by Agriculture Secretary Kazi Abul Kashem, the seminar was also addressed by Prof M Mofazzal Hossain of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agriculture University and Dr M Nurul Alam, executive chairman of Barc.