Lotkan growers need patronage

Some 200 saplings of lotkan can be planted on a bigha of land and 120 to 150 maunds of the fruit be produced every year

That over 2,000 marginal farmers mainly in the reddish lands of Shibpur, Belabo and Polash upazilas of Narsingdi district have been able to change their fortune through homestead ‘lotkan’ (longan)  farming in the past few years is a good piece of news. According to a report in this newspaper on Wednesday, a number of farmers had started small-scale cultivation of lotkan a few years back on experimental basis in Shibpur and Belabo upazilas in the district and achieved remarkable success.
Some 200 saplings can be planted on one bigha of land which produces an average of 120 to 150 maunds of the fruit every year. The fruit is small and round in size like litchi but it has more nutrition properties than that of other common fruits.
Bangladesh enjoys generally a sub-tropical monsoon climate. A tropical location, lush greenery, moisture-rich loamy soil and production-friendly climate-all these make Bangladesh one of the notable growers of a vast range of fruits. Major fruits grown in Bangladesh include mango, banana, papaya, jackfruit, pineapple, guava, litchi, pomelo, bel (wood apple), lemon, etc. Banana constitutes over 40 per cent of the total fruit production in Bangladesh.
Most of these fruits, perishable in nature with high nutritional value, are available in different seasons. In taste, flavour and texture, most of these fruits in Bangladesh are higher than similar fruits in other countries. In the rural areas of the country, the farmers in addition to other food and commercial crops are also the growers of fruits. There are fallow lands around houses of many farmers. Those can be brought under fruit cultivation. Even fruit cultivation can be taken up on the courtyards of dwelling houses. In the recent past, pisciculture, apiculture, floriculture, nursery business and dairy farming brought remarkable success to many farmers. The initial investment for fruit cultivation is not that much. Besides, saplings of trees with medicinal values can be planted. The vast youth force can be employed in this task. It can solve unemployment problem greatly.
Fruit trees can help protect environment, biodiversity, flora and fauna. Besides, these have timber value and can be used in making furniture and for many other purposes. The government, particularly the ministry and the department concerned, can provide necessary financial and logistic supports to the people willing to undertake fruit cultivation. Building of awareness can also bring the desired results.     

 

Lotkan growers need patronage

Some 200 saplings of lotkan can be planted on a bigha of land and 120 to 150 maunds of the fruit be produced every year

That over 2,000 marginal farmers mainly in the reddish lands of Shibpur, Belabo and Polash upazilas of Narsingdi district have been able to change their fortune through homestead lotkan (longan) farming in the past few years is a good piece of news. According to a report in this newspaper on Wednesday, a number of farmers had started small-scale cultivation of lotkan a few years back on experimental basis in Shibpur and Belabo upazilas in the district and achieved remarkable success. Some 200 saplings can be planted on one bigha of land which produces an average of 120 to 150 maunds of the fruit every year. The fruit is small and round in size like litchi but it has more nutrition properties than that of other common fruits. Bangladesh enjoys generally a sub-tropical monsoon climate. A tropical location, lush greenery, moisture-rich loamy soil and production-friendly climate-all these make Bangladesh one of the notable growers of a vast range of fruits. Major fruits grown in Bangladesh include mango, banana, papaya, jackfruit, pineapple, guava, litchi, pomelo, bel (wood apple), lemon, etc. Banana constitutes over 40 per cent of the total fruit production in Bangladesh. Most of these fruits, perishable in nature with high nutritional value, are available in different seasons. In taste, flavour and texture, most of these fruits in Bangladesh are higher than similar fruits in other countries. In the rural areas of the country, the farmers in addition to other food and commercial crops are also the growers of fruits. There are fallow lands around houses of many farmers. Those can be brought under fruit cultivation. Even fruit cultivation can be taken up on the courtyards of dwelling houses. In the recent past, pisciculture, apiculture, floriculture, nursery business and dairy farming brought remarkable success to many farmers. The initial investment for fruit cultivation is not that much. Besides, saplings of trees with medicinal values can be planted. The vast youth force can be employed in this task. It can solve unemployment problem greatly. Fruit trees can help protect environment, biodiversity, flora and fauna. Besides, these have timber value and can be used in making furniture and for many other purposes. The government, particularly the ministry and the department concerned, can provide necessary financial and logistic supports to the people willing to undertake fruit cultivation. Building of awareness can also bring the desired results.