Lotkan cultivation gains popularity in Narsingdi

NARSINGDI, June 23 (BSS): Cultivation of Lotkan, a delicious fruit, has gained popularity among the farmers of the district due to its economic aspect.

A number of marginal farmers mainly in the reddish lands of Shibpur, Belabo and Polash upazilas of the district have been able to change their fate in the past few years by cultivating Lotkan.

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) officials' sources said Lotkan the delicious fruit become popular since 1990. Many people here now have been cultivating Lotkan in their homestead gardens and able to change their fat.

Lotkan saplings need a little space to grow up. Two saplings need maximum 8 to 10 feet space for grow fast. After plantation the sapling the trees bloom within three or four years.

Deputy Director of DAE Narsingdi Lata fat Hossain told the news agency that 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 common fruits. Lotkan has extreme demand because of its nice colour, sweet and flavour. Per Kg Lotkan is now selling at Tk 50 to 60 in the local markets.

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 trees also bloom more and he is hope full to getting more fruits.