In Dinajpur district there has been a great interest in Latiraj Kachu (arum) cultivation among the farmers. Latiraj kachu cultivation has increased in every upazila of the district as it is profitable. Farmer Biplob Roy (32) cultivated Latiraj variety of kachu on one bigha of land in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur district in February this year.
At the end of three months, the kachu lati started coming out from the base of the kachu tree. In the local language this flower is known as ‘Pennet’. Biplob Roy is selling that kachu lati at 20 to 30 taka per kg.
Sola kachu under the ground is waiting for sale.
Farmer Biplob used to cultivate paddy in Krishakpur village of Auliapukur union of Chirirbandar upazila. Last January, on the advice of the agriculture officer of the upazila, he planted Latiraj variety in one bigha of land. Biplob is making a profit by selling the current Lati and Kachu flowers.
Recently, it has been seen on the ground that Biplob is tearing the leaves of Kachu from the field. Biplob said that in the last two years, he has not got any profit from tomatoes and chillies. So, he showed interest in kachu cultivation on the advice of the agriculture officer.
He was also given Kachu saplings from the Agriculture Office with the funding of NATP-2 project. Lati started selling at the end of three months. He has already torn the lobe for more than 70 days. Every time there is more than one maund of Lati. He has earned a total of Tk 70,000 by selling this plant in the local market at a price of Tk 20 to 25.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mahmudul Hasan said, "Farmers are being encouraged to cultivate Latiraj kachu as a high value crop under the National Agricultural Technology Program (NATP-2) project." At present Latiraj is being planted on three acres of land through six exhibitions in the upazila.
