Lotkon (Burmese grape) cultivation is gaining popularity in Sherpur’s Garo Hills, transforming once-fallow lands into
productive orchards and creating new income opportunities for local farmers.
Farmers in different hilly areas of Jhenaigati upazila are increasingly turning to the fruit because of its low maintenance requirements, comparatively low production costs and attractive market prices.
Agricultural entrepreneur Hamidullah of Bharua village under Nolkura Union became interested in lotkon cultivation after visiting an orchard in Narsingdi in 2007.
Subsequently he planted improved varieties of lotkon saplings on a piece of unused land beside his home. After years of care and nurturing, he began commercial production and marketing of the fruit in 2014. At present, his orchard covers 65 decimals of land.
During the current season, each tree has produced an average of six to eight maunds of fruit. He has already sold lotkon worth around Taka 2 lakh this
year.
According to the district agriculture department, lotkon has been cultivated on about three hectares of land in Jhenaigati upazila and on 21 hectares across Sherpur district this year. Hilly terrain and shaded homestead areas
are considered highly suitable for growing the fruit.
The sweet-and-sour tropical fruit, rich in Vitamin C, grows in clusters directly on the trunk and branches of the tree and is widely appreciated across the country for its refreshing taste.
Talking to BSS, Hamidullah said, “Lotkon cultivation is simple and profitable. Good yields can be obtained with only one or two irrigations a year and the use of organic fertiliser.”
“It is possible to earn between Taka 1.5 lakh and Taka two lakh annually with minimal production costs,” he added.
Md Rayhan Ali, another farmer of the area, said the soil and climate of the Garo Hills are highly favourable for lotkon cultivation. Good yields, low production costs and rising market demand are encouraging more farmers to
grow the fruit.
Agricultural entrepreneur Mohammad Mujahid of Ahmednagar said lotkon is emerging as a promising cash crop in the Garo Hills.
“Marketing is relatively easy as traders purchase the fruit directly from orchards,” he added.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Sherpur Md Sakhawat Hossain told BSS that the district’s soil and climate are highly suitable for lotkon cultivation.
“If farmers receive regular training and technical support, the planned expansion of cultivation could make lotkon one of the most profitable fruits in the region,” the DAE official added.
Agricultural officials said the region’s fertile soil and favourable climate have made it well-suited to the crop, which produces fruit once a year at the onset of the monsoon season.
