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The intense heat of the ongoing summer season has caused widespread disruption among the general public. Alongside the demand for safe drinking water, there has been a notable increase in the demand for lemon-infused drinks to meet not only the thirst but also the need for vitamin C.
Due to the increased demand, the farming of lemon has become a boon for farmers and traders of Chattogram region, the hilly tract, as it has made them financially solvent in the last couple of years.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Chattogram, in FY2013-14, the total lemon production in the Chattogram agricultural region is more than 50,000 tonnes. Production has doubled over the years and increased fivefold in seven years. With the rising demand, the agricultural department is working to increase lemon production in this region.
However, farmers claimed that although they sell lemons to the wholesalers at an average price of Tk three per piece, in the retail market, the lemons are sold at around Tk 8-10 per piece. As a result, farmers feel deprived of fair prices.
Relevant stakeholders stated that there is a significant gap between the market price and the price received by farmers. They believed that if farmers could sell lemons directly in the market, they would receive a better price and be more encouraged to increase cultivation.
Md Nasir Uddin, additional director of the Chattogram DAE, stated that to boost lemon production nationwide, the DAE initiated a project in 2019 titled "Extension, management and increase of production of citrus crop" in 123 upazilas across 30 districts, which ended in 2023. Six upazilas of Chattogram, three upazilas of Feni and four upazilas of Cox's Bazar were under this project.
In FY2021-22, 26,800 tonnes of lemon were cultivated on 2,347 hectares in the Chattogram region. However, in the following year, though the cultivation decreased to 2,292 hectares, production increased to 50,681 tonnes. This indicates that the project has successfully boosted lemon production in the region.
According to the district-wise production, lemons were cultivated only on 620 hectares in the Chattogram district of the Chattogram agricultural region in FY2016-17, producing 7,754 tonnes. However, in FY22, lemon production in 1,895 hectares was 24,114 tonnes. In FY2022-23, lemons were cultivated on 1,807 hectares in Chattogram, producing 48,200 tonnes.
Although cultivation decreased by 88 hectares compared to FY22, production increased by 24,086 tonnes.
According to the sources of the DAE in Chattogram, though lemons are being cultivated only in five districts of the Chattogram agricultural region (Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Lakshmipur and Noakhali), Chattogram district has the most extensive cultivation area. In FY23, a total of 2,292 hectares were cultivated in the Chattogram agricultural region, producing a total of 50,681 tonnes of lemons.
Challenges remain
Nasir Uddin further said that among the five districts in the Chattogram agricultural region, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar are predominantly hilly areas. The presence of hills in Chattogram makes it more suitable for lemon cultivation, leading to a high demand for Chattogram's hilly lemons.
In Chattogram district alone, 48,200 tonnes were produced on 1,807 hectares of land, 659 tonnes on 170 hectares in Cox's Bazar, 503 tonnes on 94 hectares in Noakhali, 657 tonnes on 81 hectares in Feni, and 662 tonnes on 140 hectares in Lakshmipur, according to DAE.
Apart from Chattogram district, lemon cultivation and production in the remaining four districts are very low.
In FY17, lemon cultivation in these districts, except Chattogram, covered 262 hectares and produced only 2,846 tonnes. In FY23, these districts cultivated lemons on just 485 hectares, yielding 2,481 tonnes. Accordingly, while lemon production in the Chattogram agricultural region has increased fivefold over the past seven fiscal years, production in the other five districts has decreased.
About seven or eight years ago in Cox's Bazar district, lemon was cultivated in 80 hectares and the production was about 1,600 tonnes. In the last seven years in this district, despite an increase in cultivation area to 90 hectares, production has decreased to 659 tonnes, a drop of 941 tonnes.
Farmers said that the cost of lemon production is high, including expenses for timely watering, pesticide use, hiring additional labour, transportation, etc. They have to rent vehicles to transport lemons to wholesalers, incurring further costs.
However, wholesalers often offer low prices, resulting in minimal profits. In the market, these lemons sell for double or more than the price paid to farmers. If farmers do not receive fair prices, they will not be motivated to continue cultivating crops.
Md Rashed, a farmer from Karaldenga Union in Chattogram’s Boalkhali Upazila, cultivated lemons on approximately 15 kani (one kani = 40 decimals) of land.
He told The Business Post, “I have been associated with this lemon cultivation for about 15 to 20 years. In my union, most lemons are grown in hilly areas. Although lemons are available throughout the year, the production of lemons has increased in the last one and a half years.”
“Currently, I am selling lemons for Tk 650-800 per sack, with each sack containing around 300-350 lemons, fetching an average price of Tk 2.5-3 per lemon. However, the price of this lemon is more in the market. Despite the increase in lemon production in the field, farmers are dissatisfied with the price,” he added.
