Farmers in Tangail's Dhanbari Upazila have commercially started cultivating arum lobe, locally known as kochur loti. They are gaining much more profit, along with lower risk, in this cultivation compared to other crops.
The reason for the higher profit in cultivating the vegetable is that, along with arum, additional crops – lobe and arum stems -- can be obtained from it. Lobes sprout from the arum tuber. It is a popular vegetable for low-income people.
According to local farmers, the arum lobe has multiple uses. Primarily, arum leaves are consumed as vegetables, the lobe is a nutritious ingredient for a strong body, and arum stems are also sold as vegetables. Without much hassle and expenses other than proper care, a profit of around Tk 15 lakh can be earned per season by cultivating arum lobe on one bigha of land without any risk. Arum lobes are being wholesaled at prices ranging from Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,000 per maund in the local market. Arum lobes from here are supplied to various regions of the country.
According to the Upazila Agricultural Office in Dhanbari, cultivation of arum lobe is being done on 20 hectares of land in Dhanbari Upazila. The Latiraj (Bari Pani Kachu-1) variety of arum is popular among locals. With the overall assistance of the agricultural department, the demand and market prices for this crop are gradually increasing in various areas of the upazila.
Al-Amin, a farmer from the Mushuddi Union of Dhanbari Upazila, said, "There is less hassle and expense in cultivating arum lobe. There is no need for pesticides. Cows and goats do not eat arum, and no extra person is needed to oversee it."
Javeda Begum, housewife, said, "I have cultivated arum lobe on 33 per cent of the land this season. I have made a lot of profit which is not possible to gain from any other crop. So, in the future, I will cultivate this crop twice according to the advice of the agricultural office."
Local Sub-Assistant Agricultural Officer Farid Ahmed said, "Currently, demand for lobe is higher than for arum. Per bigha, above 90-100 maunds of lobe can be obtained."
Masudur Rahman, an agricultural officer of the Dhanbari Upazila, said, "Currently, farmers of the upazila are turning towards more profitable cultivation of arum lobe. Interested farmers are being provided with high-yielding arum lobe seedlings and assistance. Fertility of land increases with the cultivation of this crop."
