Lotkon farming gains popularity

The cultivation of lotkon (Burmese grape) has been gaining popularity among farmers in Kuliarchar upazila of the district. Around 2,000 farmers in the upazila are now farming lotkon.
A large number of marginal farmers, mainly in the red clay area of Abdullahpur and Salua unions of Kuliarchar upazila of the district have been able to change their fate in the past few years by cultivating delicious and juicy lotkon. The fruit is rich in minerals like chromium, potassium, and magnesium etc as well as B vitamins to amino acids.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) official sources said lotkon is mostly cultivated at homesteads. The saplings need a little space to grow up. A total of 200 saplings can be planted on one bigha of land, producing up to an average of 5 tonnes of lotkon a season.Two lotkon saplings need maximum 8 to 10 feet space to grow fast. After plantation, the sapling blooms within three or four years.  The fruit is small and somewhat similar to litchi. The juicy fruit has more nutritional value than that of common fruits. Lotkon is nice in colour, sweetness and flavour. Per kilogram of lotkon is now selling at Tk 70 to Tk80.
Nasir Uddin, a farmer from Abdullahpur village in the upazila, said one can easily earn Tk 70,000- Tk 80,000 a season from cultivation of lotkon on one bigha of land.
Abu Bakkar, another farmer of Salua village, said lotkon tree generally grows on high fallow land where the scope of other crop cultivation is limited. Some 200 saplings can be planted on a bigha of land, which produces an average of 100 to 120 maunds of lotkon a year. Each lotkon tree bears 20 to 30 kg fruits every year, he added.
 ­Md. Alauddin planted over 25 lotkon saplings on his 20 decimal of land at Abdullahpur area four years ago. The plants have grown well and blossomed more this year. Harvesting of crop has begun from the first week of Bangla month Ashar (June-July). He expressed his satisfaction over the production of lotkon in his orchard this season due to  favourable weather.  
Aminul Islam, agriculture officer of Kuliarchar, said the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has been encouraging farmers in the upazila to grow lotkon as fruit yields more profit than many other local fruits.
He said Lotkon is being exported abroad, especially to the countries in the Middle East and Europe.

Lotkon farming gains popularity

The cultivation of lotkon (Burmese grape) has been gaining popularity among farmers in Kuliarchar upazila of the district. Around 2,000 farmers in the upazila are now farming lotkon. A large number of marginal farmers, mainly in the red clay area of Abdullahpur and Salua unions of Kuliarchar upazila of the district have been able to change their fate in the past few years by cultivating delicious and juicy lotkon. The fruit is rich in minerals like chromium, potassium, and magnesium etc as well as B vitamins to amino acids. Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) official sources said lotkon is mostly cultivated at homesteads. The saplings need a little space to grow up. A total of 200 saplings can be planted on one bigha of land, producing up to an average of 5 tonnes of lotkon a season.Two lotkon saplings need maximum 8 to 10 feet space to grow fast. After plantation, the sapling blooms within three or four years. The fruit is small and somewhat similar to litchi. The juicy fruit has more nutritional value than that of common fruits. Lotkon is nice in colour, sweetness and flavour. Per kilogram of lotkon is now selling at Tk 70 to Tk80. Nasir Uddin, a farmer from Abdullahpur village in the upazila, said one can easily earn Tk 70,000- Tk 80,000 a season from cultivation of lotkon on one bigha of land. Abu Bakkar, another farmer of Salua village, said lotkon tree generally grows on high fallow land where the scope of other crop cultivation is limited. Some 200 saplings can be planted on a bigha of land, which produces an average of 100 to 120 maunds of lotkon a year. Each lotkon tree bears 20 to 30 kg fruits every year, he added. Md. Alauddin planted over 25 lotkon saplings on his 20 decimal of land at Abdullahpur area four years ago. The plants have grown well and blossomed more this year. Harvesting of crop has begun from the first week of Bangla month Ashar (June-July). He expressed his satisfaction over the production of lotkon in his orchard this season due to favourable weather. Aminul Islam, agriculture officer of Kuliarchar, said the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) has been encouraging farmers in the upazila to grow lotkon as fruit yields more profit than many other local fruits. He said Lotkon is being exported abroad, especially to the countries in the Middle East and Europe.