Bumper yield of BINA Lemon-1 shows promise

Bangladesh has achieved success in cultivating BINA Lemon-1 – a seedless variety developed by scientists from the country’s institute of nuclear agriculture, evident by the crop’s bumper harvest in different regions, including in Mymensingh.

This successful harvest has piqued the interest of local farmers, and BINA is working to create entrepreneurs to spread this variety of lemon in all corners of Bangladesh, its Director General Mirza Mofazzal Islam told The Business Post.

Head of BINA’s horticulture department and innovator of the variety Dr Md Rafiqul Islam said, “The BINA Lemon-1 is very tasty, fragrant and juicy. The tree bears fruit 10-11 months after planting and each tree bears 250-300 lemons per year.

“This tree can grow flowers and fruits all year round for 15-18 years. The BINA Lemon-1 variety is also resistant to pests. The trees can suffer from top dying, scab, greening, gummosis, and kangkar diseases, but it is easy to tackle these ailments.”

He continued, “The BINA Lemon-1 variety can propagate through cutting and grafting processes. The best season for grafting is between April and August. Saplings can be planted in a row, or in patterns of a square or hexagon to ease the process of plant care and harvest.

“The variety can also be planted side by side on a row in hilly slopes to curb soil erosion. Saplings created through the process of cutting and grafting can be planted from April to September. The yield of BINA Lemon-1 is 30-40 per cent higher than the regular variety.”

Rafiqul added that with proper care, a farmer can harvest 24-30 tonnes of lemon from per hectare of land.

Scientists developed the BINA Lemon-1 variety after a long research on germplasm collected from a Vietnamese species. The institute secured approval from authorities concerned near the end of 2018 to cultivate this variety at the field level.

A group of scientists from the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture is also cultivating BINA Lemon-1 on a leased five-acre land in Ujan Kashiarchar area under the Gouripur Upazila.

They are expecting a yield of around 30 tonnes per hectare this season.

Speaking to The Business Post, land owner Fazlul Haque said, “The land was barren before the scientists began cultivating the lemon variety. But the bumper harvest of crops has surprised us.”

Local farm-hand and farmer Ruhul Amin said, “Lemon prices are good this season, so many people are cultivating the crop. I have planted this variety on two acres of land, and the yield looks promising.

“The scientists are helping me with advice whenever I need it. I will be able to recoup my costs and make a profit if the harvest remains good.”

Discussing the viability of the variety, BINA’s Director General Mirza Mofazzal Islam said, “A farmer can earn Tk 15,000 – Tk 20,000 from per bigha of land annually by cultivating BINA Lemon-1.”