Farmer grows tastier, bigger kul in Faridpur
Locals in Sadar upazila are stirred by the success of a farmer in growing a new variety of a larger jujube, known as Kashmiri apple kul, which has an attractive appearance similar to a small reddish apple and is tastier than other large jujubes available in the country.
Mofizur Rahman cultivated the variety on seven bighas of land in Hat Gobindapur village in April last year and he started getting a good yield from the plants this year.
The mature Kashmiri apple kul has a reddish complexion over light yellow or green skin. It is larger in shape and tastes better than other available large varieties such as BAU kul and Thai kul, said Kartik Chandra Chakraborty, deputy director of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Faridpur.
The DAE extended all necessary support to Mofizur, who cultivated Kashmiri apple kul for the first time in Faridpur, he added.
During a recent visit to his orchard, Mofizur was seen busy tending the plants and plucking the fruits with five workers.
On how it all started, he said he spent Tk 74,400 to bring in 1,860 saplings of the variety from India with the help of a relative.
From day one, he was in constant contact with the DAE officials who guided him on how to prepare the land and apply necessary fertilisers and pesticides in the orchard.
The plants produced a large quantity of fruits within nine months and he started harvesting mature fruits during the first week of February this year, Mofizur said.
Aside from the cost of cultivation, including the price he paid for the plants, he spent Tk 3 lakh on protective fences around the orchard.
He is getting Tk 80 for each kilogram of Kashmiri apple kul that the buyers are collecting straight from the orchard. He said he hopes to make Tk 35 lakh from sales this season.
"Many others grow different varieties of kul in the area, but this new variety looks more attractive and it is delicious. That's why it is high in demand," Mofizur said.
He also started making saplings of the Kashmiri apple kul through budding method as many farmers from different areas are showing keen interest in cultivating it. "I've already received orders for 2,000 saplings of the Kashmiri apple kul. I will sell each sapling for Tk 50," he also said. The Kashmiri apple kul is highly profitable and its cultivation can be extended in other areas through budding method, said DAE official Kartik Chandra.