Lemon cultivation gaining popularity

Our Correspondent

GOPALGANJ, July 14: Cultivation of lemon is gaining popularity in Kasiani upazila of the district as a good number of farmers have become financially solvent by cultivating the fruit on their cropland and homesteads.

According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources, a total of 60 hectors of land have been brought under lemon cultivation in the district here and production target at 60 tonnes where more than 3,000 farmers and district reseed women have become solvent by farming lemon on their cropland, sources said.

Rashamay Mondal, upazila agriculture officer (UAO), Kasiani in Gopalganj told the FE that about 20 hectares of land have been brought under lemon cultivation in Kasiani upazila in Gopalganj this year. One stage he said soil & weather condition is favourable for farming of lemon. About 500 cultivators involved this farming in Kasiani upazila. Besides cultivators including male & female so mass labourers. As a result they are getting a good benefit from it produce, UAO said.

Mohiuddin Sheikh (50), a lemon cultivator of village Jonashur under Moheshpur union in Kasiani upazila told the FE he cultivated lemon on 78 decimal of land origin 'kagogi' last six year back and a total of four labours continuing working in his lemon garden and they getting as a salary Tk 250 everyday (duration for only four hours). But recently the holy Ramadan Mohiuddin sold Tk 1,50,000 from his lemon produce not only that every week he selling lemon above 180 pones (14,400 pieces) from his lemon produce which market price is Tk 27,000. Mohiuddin said during visit his field at Jonashur.

Md. Sadik Sheikh (52), another farmer of same village under Kasiani upazila in the district told the FE He cultivated lemon origin 'kagogi' on 24 decimal of land last three years back and every year he earned net profit Tk 75,000 to 80,000 of lemon produce from his garden. One stage Sadik said lemon farming is more profitable fruit in short duration because investment is small but return is big not only that lemon farming is farmer friendship fruit, Sadik added.

Wahidur Rahman, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO), Jonashur block under Moheshpur union told the FE about 250 lemon cultivators in only Jonashur areas have been farming the crop (lemon) soil in this region is more suitable for farming the crop as a result lemon farmers are more benefited from its cultivation and huge demand of it to the markets. One pone of lemon is being selling at the rate of Tk 150 (wholesale rate). I think a lemon growers can easily earned about Tk 0.3 milliom from one bigha (52 decimal) of land in one year without all expenditure Wahidur said.

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