M.A. Awal, Narsingdi :
Cultivation of Kalambo Lemon in four upazilas of the district has been increasing gradually as the farmers are showing interest towards the farming due to economic prospect of the crop.
A number of farmers had started small scale cultivation of Kalambo lemon few years back on experimental basis in four upazilas of the district and achieved remarkable success Their success encouraged many others farmers in the district to raise orchards of the juicy and extraordinary flavor fruit Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials after examining the soil in four upazilas- Shibpur, Belabo, Monohardi and Raipura found that the climate and soil of the district are suitable for Kalambo Lemon cultivation and seeing the interest of the farmers the Department has taken up an extensive programme to cultivate export quality lemon here in four upazilas of the district.
Under the programme 50 orchards of Kalambo lemon(each orchard spread over one bigha) was set up in four upazilas last year and this year a total of 320 new orchards being set up in the same four upazilas of the district . DAE supplying 160 saplings to each grower for one orchard and also imparted training to all growers.
Besides some farmers in different areas of the district raised a number of orchards in their own initiative and they are at present harvesting good quality lemon from their orchards.
Deputy Director, DAE, Narsingdi Latafot Hossain told The New Nation that farmers of the district this year harvesting huge good quality lemon from their old orchards. He said Kalambo lemon has great demand in the local markets and other distance markets. Now this variety of lemon are exporting in abroad specially London. Each Kilogram Kalambo lemon are being sold at Tk 50 to 60 in the local markets which contain only 4to 5.He said last year Narsingdi district export 40 metric tons of Kalambo lemon to foreign countries, He expect that this year Narsingdi district will export over 60 metric tons of Kalambo Lemon to foreign countries.
The Deputy Director Said Kalambo lemon tree generally growing on high fallow land where scope of other crop cultivation is limited. Some 200 sapling can be planted on per bigha of land which produce an average 60 to 70 mounds. Each tree bears 80 to 100 lemons in a year He opined that the country could earn huge foreign exchange every year by exporting Kalambo lemon.
The New Nation correspondent recently visited a number of Kalambo lemon orchards in Shibpur and Raipura upazilas found that the farmers harvesting lemon from their orchards with enthusiasm. While talking to a farmer Julhas Miah of village Dattargoan under Shibpur upazila said that last year he achieved good production of lemon from his, 60 decimals of land and he was earned Tk 2, 00000 selling the lemon. This year he also getting an excellent production from his garden and expect to earn over Tk 3, 00000 by selling lemon from his garden.
Farmer Babul chowdhury of Adiabad union under Raipura upazila also narrated his successful story cultivating the Kalambo lemon in his 16 bigha s lannd. He said this year he is getting an excellent production from his garden. He expressed his satisfaction that for so far earned Tk 3, 00000 and expect to earn over Tk 2,00000 the rest days of the season.
Cultivation of Kalambo Lemon in four upazilas of the district has been increasing gradually as the farmers are showing interest towards the farming due to economic prospect of the crop.
A number of farmers had started small scale cultivation of Kalambo lemon few years back on experimental basis in four upazilas of the district and achieved remarkable success Their success encouraged many others farmers in the district to raise orchards of the juicy and extraordinary flavor fruit Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials after examining the soil in four upazilas- Shibpur, Belabo, Monohardi and Raipura found that the climate and soil of the district are suitable for Kalambo Lemon cultivation and seeing the interest of the farmers the Department has taken up an extensive programme to cultivate export quality lemon here in four upazilas of the district.
Under the programme 50 orchards of Kalambo lemon(each orchard spread over one bigha) was set up in four upazilas last year and this year a total of 320 new orchards being set up in the same four upazilas of the district . DAE supplying 160 saplings to each grower for one orchard and also imparted training to all growers.
Besides some farmers in different areas of the district raised a number of orchards in their own initiative and they are at present harvesting good quality lemon from their orchards.
Deputy Director, DAE, Narsingdi Latafot Hossain told The New Nation that farmers of the district this year harvesting huge good quality lemon from their old orchards. He said Kalambo lemon has great demand in the local markets and other distance markets. Now this variety of lemon are exporting in abroad specially London. Each Kilogram Kalambo lemon are being sold at Tk 50 to 60 in the local markets which contain only 4to 5.He said last year Narsingdi district export 40 metric tons of Kalambo lemon to foreign countries, He expect that this year Narsingdi district will export over 60 metric tons of Kalambo Lemon to foreign countries.
The Deputy Director Said Kalambo lemon tree generally growing on high fallow land where scope of other crop cultivation is limited. Some 200 sapling can be planted on per bigha of land which produce an average 60 to 70 mounds. Each tree bears 80 to 100 lemons in a year He opined that the country could earn huge foreign exchange every year by exporting Kalambo lemon.
The New Nation correspondent recently visited a number of Kalambo lemon orchards in Shibpur and Raipura upazilas found that the farmers harvesting lemon from their orchards with enthusiasm. While talking to a farmer Julhas Miah of village Dattargoan under Shibpur upazila said that last year he achieved good production of lemon from his, 60 decimals of land and he was earned Tk 2, 00000 selling the lemon. This year he also getting an excellent production from his garden and expect to earn over Tk 3, 00000 by selling lemon from his garden.
Farmer Babul chowdhury of Adiabad union under Raipura upazila also narrated his successful story cultivating the Kalambo lemon in his 16 bigha s lannd. He said this year he is getting an excellent production from his garden. He expressed his satisfaction that for so far earned Tk 3, 00000 and expect to earn over Tk 2,00000 the rest days of the season.
