Lalmi farming gains popularity in Faridpur

FARIDPUR, May 27 (BSS): Lalmi, a melon variety, farming brings boon for farmers of the district.

The medium-sized, fleshy and delicious fruit gets popularity for its distinctive demand of invigorating the people with its watery and cooling juice in the scorching heat especially in the summer season.

Having the similar nature of 'Bangi', it's slightly different in taste and colour. The skin of the Lalmi fruit is smooth and plain while Bangi seems long cavities and veins on its body. Therefore the very name Lalmi has been given by the local farmers for its unique color and taste, locals said.

Although Bangi is Rabi crop, the Lalmi might be cultivated round the year except two months of winter. It takes only 60 days to be matured since farming. Hence, the farmers get opportunity of farming the Lalmi ahead of Ramadan.

Every standard and long size Lalmi weighing about 750 to 800 gm costs Tk 20 to Tk 30 in retail price in this period.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Faridpur reports that the cultivation of Lalmi gains more popularity among the farmers especially in Sadarpur, Nagarkanda and Bhanga upazilas in the district.

Lalmi has been cultivated in around 600 hectares of land this year yielding around 15 tonnes to 16 tonnes in each hectare. It's a business of around Tk 500 million for farmers this season, source said.

While visiting the fields in different villages - Bhasanchar, Ramnagar , Piajkhali , Mutukchar, Notun bazaar, Karir hat, Akoter char- this correspondent recently found that the farmers are busy harvesting Lalmi fruits from their farms.

Abu Bakar Siddique, a vendor of Lalmi in Faridpur town said, production of Lalmi this season was very satisfactory and prices is also good.

Deputy Director of DAE in Faridpur Kartick Chandra Chakroborty told the news agency that Lalmi cultivation is an innovative production of Faridpur farmers. One can eat Lalmi in two ways - green Lalmi as a vegetable as well as ripen one as a fruit.