M. S. M. CHOWDHURY1, I. HOSSAIN2, M. U. AHMAD2 and MD. RAZZAB ALI3
1Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), Dhaka-1207, 2Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh. 3Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, SAU, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.
Abstract
The existing market situation of seedlings of fruit species in the country is in a stage to be upgraded for successful fruit production to meet the national demand. Plant propagation and nursery management is a vital link in the production of quality planting material (QPM). A survey was carried out during 2005 to 2008 to study the status of seedlings trade of different fruit species with in the country. The status of seedling trade was observed in 530 nurseries located at 260 Upazila of 52 districts of Bangladesh. Total 17million seedlings of more then 20 fruit species were sold out in the surveyed nurseries and the total price of these seedlings was Tk*. 363 million annually. This partial volume of transaction in the nurseries would be much higher if the total transaction of the country could bring into account. Variations in different fruit seedlings traded in 52 districts of Bangladesh were also observed. Significant number of the investigated nursery owner expressed their satisfaction about nursery business while no nursery businessman showed their dissatisfaction over the business. The issue of seedlings of fruit species is not given proper attention by all the concerned authorities of Bangladesh. The present investigation showed that considerable amount of seedlings of fruit species are being traded every, year thus the issue of quality seedlings of fruit species demands attention of the concerned authorities to take necessary action.
Key words: Seedling, Fruit, Health, Trade and Pathogen.
*US dolor ($) 1 = Taka (Tk) 70