Adhir Chandra Roy, 53, has become self-reliant by growing lemons in Rajarhat, Kurigram. He bought four lemon saplings at a market for Tk 25 and later, step by step, planted about 100 saplings on a total of 65 decimals. After meeting his family's needs, he earns Tk 1.5 to 2 lakh a year selling lemons at market. The successful lemon grower's home is in Mirer Bari Khilpara village of Chhinai union in Kurigram Sadar upazila.

In 1996 Adhir Chandra Roy bought four round kagzi lemon saplings for Tk 25 at Barabarihat in Lalmonirhat district and planted them in his yard. A year and a half later the four trees produced more than 800 lemons. At the time he had no thought of selling them, but one day a lemon trader saw them and bought them for Tk 1,400. His interest in lemons grew. He then bought grafted saplings at Tk 20 each and planted 100 on 65 decimals in two phases. Three years later the orchard began earning him about Tk 1.5 to 2 lakh a year.

"This orchard grew from just four lemon trees bought for Tk 25," Adhir Chandra Roy said. "There are various kagzi lemon varieties here. After meeting the family's needs, I earn well selling at market. Lemons pay several times more than paddy. If I grew paddy on the 65 decimals I would get 40 maunds a season, with a profit of Tk 8,000 to 10,000 after costs. Over two seasons a year the profit would be Tk 20,000-30,000. But lemons cost almost nothing to grow, and I earn Tk 1.5 to 2 lakh a year from the kagzi lemon orchard."

Md Abdul Rahman, who came to see the orchard, said: "Seeing Adhir dada's kagzi lemon orchard and taking his advice, I am inspired. Next year I will plant a kagzi lemon orchard too."

Local resident Sukhranjan said: "When anyone at our house is ill, we take kagzi lemons from Adhir babu's orchard free of charge."

Rajarhat upazila agriculture officer Saifur Nahar Sathi said: "Adhir babu has been growing lemons for a long time and is now a successful farmer. The agriculture department will give every kind of advice and support to create lemon-growing entrepreneurs like him."

Reported by Fazlul Karim Faraji.

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