‘Lotkan’ brings fortune marginal farmers in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI: Over 2,000 marginal farmers mainly in the reddish lands of Shibpur, Belabo and Polash upazilas of the district have been able to change their fortune through homestead ‘Lotkan’ farming in the past few years, reports BSS.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources said ‘Lotkan’, a local delicious fruit, become popular since 1990.
A number of farmers had started small scale cultivation of Lotkan few years back on experimental basis in the radish lands of Shibpur and Belabo upazilas in the district and achieved remarkable success.
Many farmers here gradually raised a number of orchards in their own initiative and they also now have been cultivating ‘Lotkan’ in their homestead gardens and they earn cash.
Deputy Director of DAE Narsingdi Latafat Hossain said ‘Lotkan’ tree generally growing in high fallow land where scope of other crop cultivation is limited.
Some 200 saplings can be planted on per bigha of land which is produces an average of 120 to 150 maunds of ‘Lotkan’ every year. The fruit is small and round in size like Litchi. The juicy fruit has more nutrition properties then that of other common fruits.
Lotkan has extreme demand because of its nice colour, sweet and flavour.  Per kg ‘Lotkan’ is now selling at Tk 70 to 80 in the local markets. The farmers are happy getting an excellent output with lucrative prices of the juicy and fleshy seasonal fruit ‘Lotkan’.
The Deputy Director of DAE said according to unofficial sources there are at present 10 to 12 lakh ‘Lotkan’ trees in 540 hectares lands mainly Shibpur, Belabo and Polash upazilas of the district. Each tree bear 40 to 50 kg fruits every year.
One Nural Amin of Amlabo village under Belabo upazila planted over 500 saplings of ‘Lotkan’ in his three bighas of land twelve years ago. The plants growing well and within four years the tree bloom more and he is getting good yield of fruits every years. This year the tree also bloom more and he hope to get more fruits.
Harvesting of ‘Lotkan’ has begun from last week of Bangla month Jaistha.
Nural Amin expressed his satisfaction over the production of ‘Lotkan’ in his orchards this season.
He said he has started the selling of ‘Lotkan’ and so far sold Lotkan worth Taka 50 thousand and hope to sell the rest fruits over Tk three to four lakh.
Abul Jalil of Bajnabo village of Shibpur upazila narrated the same that he cultivated of over 400 saplings of ‘Lotkan’ in his two bighas of land during the last ten years and getting good result from his land during the last six years. This year he hopes to sell the fruits more than Tk three lakh.

Lotkan brings fortune marginal farmers in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI: Over 2,000 marginal farmers mainly in the reddish lands of Shibpur, Belabo and Polash upazilas of the district have been able to change their fortune through homestead Lotkan farming in the past few years, reports BSS. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources said Lotkan, a local delicious fruit, become popular since 1990. A number of farmers had started small scale cultivation of Lotkan few years back on experimental basis in the radish lands of Shibpur and Belabo upazilas in the district and achieved remarkable success. Many farmers here gradually raised a number of orchards in their own initiative and they also now have been cultivating Lotkan in their homestead gardens and they earn cash. Deputy Director of DAE Narsingdi Latafat Hossain said Lotkan tree generally growing in high fallow land where scope of other crop cultivation is limited. Some 200 saplings can be planted on per bigha of land which is produces an average of 120 to 150 maunds of Lotkan every year. The fruit is small and round in size like Litchi. The juicy fruit has more nutrition properties then that of other common fruits. Lotkan has extreme demand because of its nice colour, sweet and flavour. Per kg Lotkan is now selling at Tk 70 to 80 in the local markets. The farmers are happy getting an excellent output with lucrative prices of the juicy and fleshy seasonal fruit Lotkan. The Deputy Director of DAE said according to unofficial sources there are at present 10 to 12 lakh Lotkan trees in 540 hectares lands mainly Shibpur, Belabo and Polash upazilas of the district. Each tree bear 40 to 50 kg fruits every year. One Nural Amin of Amlabo village under Belabo upazila planted over 500 saplings of Lotkan in his three bighas of land twelve years ago. The plants growing well and within four years the tree bloom more and he is getting good yield of fruits every years. This year the tree also bloom more and he hope to get more fruits. Harvesting of Lotkan has begun from last week of Bangla month Jaistha. Nural Amin expressed his satisfaction over the production of Lotkan in his orchards this season. He said he has started the selling of Lotkan and so far sold Lotkan worth Taka 50 thousand and hope to sell the rest fruits over Tk three to four lakh. Abul Jalil of Bajnabo village of Shibpur upazila narrated the same that he cultivated of over 400 saplings of Lotkan in his two bighas of land during the last ten years and getting good result from his land during the last six years. This year he hopes to sell the fruits more than Tk three lakh.