Poor kul production, good price

Although there has not been expected production of kul (plum) this year due to the flowers falling off, growers are happy at getting good price for it.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Pirojpur, there are kul orchards on 258 hectares of land in the district. Among seven upazilas, Nazirpur has kul orchards in 140 hectares and produces the highest amount of the winter fruit.

Mainly five varieties of kul -- Narikel Kul, Apple Kul, Bao Kul, Bari-1 and Thai Kul -- are cultivated in the district. Among them, Apple Kul has the greatest demand as it is very sweet and tasty. Thai Kul is being cultivated for the last two to three years, but on a small scale.

“This year, around 60 percent of kul flowers dropped off. As a result, the production is not good,” said Porimol Biswas, a cultivator in Tarabuniya village.

“We don't know the reason for dropping-off of the flowers,” said Jagodish Boral, another grower.

But the growers are not disappointed at the poor production as they are getting good prices for the produce.

“Though the production is not as high as expected this year, we are getting high price for kul,” said cultivator Manoranjon Mondal, adding that they are selling one maund for Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000, depending on the variety.

Growers said they started collecting kul from their orchards around two weeks back, and the fruit will be available in the market for the next one month.

Kul has been grown in the district for over ten years, and its cultivation is spreading rapidly.

DAE Deputy Director Md Abul Hossain Talukder said, “Production of kul decreases if the age of trees crosses five to six years,” adding that they advise the farmers to cut down kul trees after five years and to plant new trees as they start bearing fruit one year after planting.

Last year 1,743 tonnes of kul were produced in the district, he added.