A Professor of Rajshahi University (RU) has invented a new variety of ‘Bangi’ (melon), a local fruit.
He has invented sweet melon after a long eight years’ effort and named it ‘Sonali Bangi’ or ‘Golden Melon’ because of its golden colour.
The very sweet 'golden bangi' looks like malta or orange.
The inventor of the new Bangi is Professor Monjur Hossain, director of Institute of Biological Sciences (IBSE) of RU.
Melon is cultivated in different areas of the country. Though there are nutritional supplements, due to its low taste, people eat this fruit less. Country's melons do not have that much sweetness.
This is usually eaten with molasses or sugar. However, Monzur Hossain has changed the taste.
He has been successful in cultivating the new varieties of sweet melon. The researchers also expressed hope that the seedlings or saplings will be given at the peasant level from next year.
Prof Manzur Hossain said that fruits in different parts of the country are known as Kharmuz, Futi, Kankur etc.
However, this fruit of the pumpkin summer species are sandy to eat. Taste is not sweet and it explodes before it gets mature. But the new type of Bangi ‘Golden Bangi’ is very sweet like sugar and it will not explode if ripens.
With the increase of the shape, its color changes into golden color. In its small phase, it looks like malta or orange and, when it is grown, it looks like pumpkin.
Each bangi becomes half to one kg in weight. It contains lots of calories, vitamins and iron. Raw bangis are cooked as vegetables and can be eaten.
However, the new melon is different, said professor Manzur Hossain. He said no special soil is required for its cultivation. It can be cultivated in the soil where the common melons are cultivated.
The cost of cultivation is slightly more than the ordinary melons. Each golden bangi plot will cost 15 to 20 thousand taka.
He said that Japan earns a lot of foreign currency by exporting sweet varieties of melons to different countries including Dubai.
Professor Manzur Hossain expressed hope that the farmers would be benefitted by producing this fruit in the country, as well as can earn foreign currency through export.
He said, ‘Many people could not imagine how sweet the melons can be.’
He started work on the advice of his friend Kato Kaikki. Due to a long time research, it was possible to invent these sweet melons. He hoped that in the near future, Bangladesh will earn a lot of foreign currency by exporting sweet melons.
He said, now the experimental farming is in his own nursery. He will be able to supply this sweet variety of melons seedlings at farmers' level in short span from next year. /End
AIMD
