Sohan, son of Md Monabbar of Chuariakhola village in Tumulia union of Kaliganj upazila, Gazipur, is an electrician by trade. But farming is his passion, and it was as a hobby that he planted a year-round (baromasi) lemon orchard. Now he is a successful lemon grower, and unemployed young men in the area are following his example.

Sohan said: "The man I learned electrical work from owed me Tk 850 in wages. Alongside his work he also grew year-round lemons of different varieties. As he was late paying me, I asked him to give me 20 lemon saplings of that value instead of the money. He gave me 20 lemon saplings of three varieties. That was in 2017. On the advice of the local agriculture office I started growing them on 5 decimals of land."

He said: "Now I have more than 50 year-round lemon trees of nine varieties in my orchard. I cut down everything except the year-round lemons, so now there are only year-round lemon trees. I am doing very well selling lemons out of season as well as selling lemon saplings. Neighbours and unemployed young men from my village and around have taken saplings and advice from me and started growing lemons."

Sohan added: "Demand for lemons is highest in the months of Falgun, Chaitra and Baishakh. Then I sell each lemon for Tk 7–10. I earn good money selling lemons in those three months. And in the off-season a hali (four) of lemons sells for up to Tk 300–400. I also earn well selling cuttings from the lemon trees."

He said: "Wholesalers come to the orchard and buy lemons for cash. They sell them in the local market and in Dhaka and other districts. Some of the lemon varieties have no seeds. The lemons are also very juicy. There is huge demand for my lemons in the market. I have profited from the lemon orchard."

Sohan has profited from growing year-round lemons of the Colombo, Kagzi, hybrid Kagzi, round Kagzi, seedless, China Three, Gondhoraj, Jara and Elachi varieties. The lemons are sold in Gazipur and other districts, and sometimes go to countries in the Middle East. Those involved in buying and selling them are also earning good money.

Teacher Mizanur Rahman Morol said: "The year-round lemons Sohan grows fetch high prices in the off-season, and sell well in season too. These lemons have plenty of aroma and juice. I believe seeing his lemon farming, unemployed young men around here will come forward too."

Shahin Mia, who has returned from Saudi Arabia, said: "I was in Saudi Arabia for four and a half years. I will not go back now. I heard about brother Sohan's lemon orchard and came to see it. I am interested in planting a lemon orchard too. I will take some saplings of three varieties from him and start growing them on one acre of land."

Neighbour Anwar Hossain said: "Sohan is a successful farmer. He grows 8–10 varieties of lemon. Expatriates buy lemons from Sohan when they leave, and local wholesalers come to his house to take them."

Kaliganj upazila agriculture officer Farzana Taslim, an agriculturist, said: "Sohan planted his lemon orchard with our advice and help. He started growing three varieties of year-round lemon eight years ago. Now he is a successful lemon grower, earning a great deal from his orchard. Following his example, many people are now being encouraged to take up profitable year-round lemon farming."

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