Colombo lemon farming gaining popularity in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI, May 24 (BSS): A good number of unemployed educated youths in Shibpur, Belabo, Monohardi and Raipura upazilas of the district have changed their fortune by farming Colombo lemon in last seven years.

Sources with the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said at the beginning the unemployed youths started cultivation of Colombo lemon on a small scale in high lands of their respective areas and achieved a remarkable success.

The sources said their success encouraged many others to cultivate the juicy lemon with an extraordinary flavor.

Witnessing growing interest among farmers and suitable climatic condition, the DAE in 2012 undertook a scheme of cultivating export quality Colombo lemon in the said upazilas.

Under the programme, 50 new orchards of Colombo lemon were set up. The department supplied 160 saplings of the lemon to each farmer and imparted them training on producing quality lemon.

Besides, some farmers in different areas of the district raised a number of orchards at their own initiative and they are at present harvesting good quality lemon from their orchards.

According to DAE statistics, Colombo lemon is now being produced in 1800 orchards on 360 hectares of land in the district. The farmers have produced over 5200 metric tonnes of the lemon this year.

Khandaker Mahabub of Dattargoan village under Shibpur upazila of the district started lemon cultivation on 30 decimals land in 2006. He achieved a tremendous success in cultivating Colombo lemon.