Lotkons a win-win for farmers and consumers

With ever-growing demand, easy farming and favourable weather this season leading to hopes of a bumper crop, Lalmonirhat's lotkon orchardists have reason to smile. Moreover in what seems at times to be a minefield struggle by consumers to buy fruit untainted by chemicals, lotkons are star performers. Lotkons are the unadulterated work of nature.

“We never use chemicals on lotkons,” says Harinath Sen, 56, of Dighaltari village in Aditmari upazila. “The fruit grows naturally. No chemicals are needed. We get about 7 maunds per tree, and sell the fruit to traders who buy direct from the orchard.”

“I have five lotkon trees,” says neighbour Jaldhar Chandra Sen, 45. “Some years ago I barely thought about them but in 2012 I earned Tk 18,000 from selling lotkons after meeting our family's demand. This year I hope to earn at least Tk 25,000.”

According to Lalmonirhat's deputy director of the agriculture extension department Safayet Hossain, five years ago lotkons were known as jungle fruit, with the district's farmers unaware of the commercial potential of lotkons. “Many now farm lotkons on a commercial basis, achieving their expected profit every year,” he says, adding that his department is providing technical support on how to grow lotkons chemical-free.

Shariful Islam, 42, of Fulgachh village in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila is another orchardist who's pleased with the lotkon. “Harvest runs from the first week of June until mid-July,” he says. “I started commercial production in 2013, with 150 lotkon trees on 5 bighas of land.”

“Many of my neighbours have followed my lead after observing my success,” he adds.

One of them, Delwar Hossain, 55, has planted more than 50 lotkon saplings of his own on one bigha of land. “I hope that harvest can start after three or four years.”

Lotkon trader Hasan Ali from Mogholhat Rail Gate in Lalmonirhat town says the current purchase price for one kilogram of lotkons from a grower about Tk 25 this year, which last year he could sell in the market for Tk 30 – 35. He hopes for the same selling rate this year.

Confident in the profitability of lotkons, Hasan offers growers money in advance. “There is high demand for this fruit,” he says, “We also send lotkons to Dhaka and other parts of the country.”

Sub-assistant agriculture officer in Aditmari upazila Khabir Uddin, observes that lotkons prefer a shady position and are often grown beside the homestead. According to agriculture extension department sources, there are about 20,000 lotkon trees across the district's five upazilas, with at least 120 orchardists involved in lotkon farming on a commercial basis.