Narsingdi Correspondent :
Cultivation of LaTk.an, a local delicious fruit has gained popularity among people of Narsingdi district. A large number of marginal farmers mainly in the reddish lands of Shibpur, Raipura, Polash and Belabo upazilas of the district havebeen able to change theirfate in the past few years by cultivating Lotkan.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) official sources said Lotkan cultivation the delicious fruit become popular since 1990. Many people here now have been cultivating Lotkan in their homestead garden due to its economic aspect. Lotkan saplings need a lit- tle space to grow up. Two Lotkan sapling need maximum 8 to 10 feet space to grow fast. After plantation of the sapling the trees bloom within three or four years.
Deputy Director of DAE Narsingdi Azizur Rahman told this correspondent, Lotkan tree generally growing on high fallow land where “scope of other crop cultivation is limited.
Some200 saplings can be planted on per bigha of land, which is produces, an average of 100 to 120 mounds of Lotkan per year. The fruit is small and round in six like Litchi. The Juicy fruit has more nutrition properties then that of common fruits, Lotkan has extreme demand because of its nice colour, sweet and flavour. Per kg Lotkan is now selling at Tk. 90 to 100.
The Deputy Director said no statistics available in nay government officers as they do not maintain data in this respect.