Fragrant kagzi lemons are grown commercially on 92 hectares of land in 22 villages of Jhalakathi. The scent of the juicy, vitamin C-rich lemons fills markets in Jhalakathi and across the country. Different varieties of lemon are available all year round, but this seasonal kagzi lemon is in the greatest demand. It is grown in 22 villages of Kirtipasha, Nabagram and Gabharamchandrapur unions, known as the farming belt of Sadar upazila. The lemons are sold at rural markets, but the main trading centre is Bhimruli.

The floating lemon market at Bhimruli in Jhalakathi Sadar upazila is busy this season, with lakhs of lemons changing hands every day. Wholesalers buy lemons from boats and take them by vehicle to sell at wholesale depots in Barishal, while many others carry them by cargo trawler or truck to districts across the country. The juicy, fragrant lemons, free of formalin and chemicals, are popular with everyone. Some 22 villages, including Baukathi, Shatadalkathi, Bhimruli, Kafurkathi, Atghar, Gabharamchandrapur, Poshonda, Dumuria, Khejura, Kirtipasha and Mirakathi, are now full of the scent of lemons. Every day farmers pick lemons from their trees and bring them by boat to Bhimruli market, where waiting wholesalers buy them while sitting in their trawlers.

Lemon farmers said the yield is lower than last year because of a lack of rain, so prices are higher. Last year one pon (80 lemons) sold for Tk 250; this year it is Tk 400.

Village farmers grow lemons using the sorjan method, cutting raised beds known locally as kandi. Each kandi is 100 to 110 haat (cubits) long and 7 to 8 haat wide, and 22 to 25 trees can be planted on each. Growing lemons on a one-bigha kandi costs Tk 50,000, and once the trees bear fruit, lemon sales bring in Tk 2 lakh to Tk 2.5 lakh a year. On that basis, farmers earn Tk 1.5 crore to Tk 3 crore a year from lemons.

Lemon wholesaler A Rahman said that when cargo trawlers arrive from Patuakhali, lemons are sent on them to the Patuakhali wholesale market, where deals are already agreed with fresh-produce sellers. The lemons are sold at a margin over the buying price. Demand for kagzi lemons is much higher this year, so farmers are being paid a fair price, he said. A good-quality lemon is bought for Tk 5 and sells for Tk 7 to Tk 8 in retail markets.

Lemon farmer Bashir said Jhalakathi's lemons are valued by everyone. Once the trees fruit, lemons are sold in two ways: to wholesalers at the local Bhimruli market, or by selling the whole orchard to wholesalers for a one-off cash payment once the trees bear fruit. From Bhimruli, wholesalers ship them by boat or trawler to Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Barishal, Faridpur, Madaripur and other districts.

Md Mizanur Rahman, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Jhalakathi, said: "This year lemons have been grown commercially on 92 hectares in the district. Although the yield is lower because of the lack of rain, farmers are happy to be getting a fair price. The local fragrant kagzi lemon is small but has plenty of juice inside. Everyone is drawn to vitamin C-rich lemons to some degree. The agriculture department advises lemon farmers on care and every other aspect. This year too, sales are likely to exceed Tk 3 crore."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.