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Dear readers, a few days back I went to Comfit Composite Knit Ltd, located in Gorai Industrial Area in Tangail’s Mirzapur upazila. The reason to visit the place was that its premises is covered with full of green that attracted me a lot. The owner of the factory has a deep passion for greenery. The factory has a fish farm, a pigeon farm, lemon orchard and dragon fruit orchard alongside some mango trees. Among those, dragon fruits caught my attention the most. There was also another reason to be there.

On a Hridoye Mati O Manush (HMOM) episode you have watched from Shin Shin village in China’s Guangdong province where farmers are growing dragon fruit under LED lights during the evening time. They were using the LED lights to make the daylight longer. You probably know that dragon fruit only grows from April to July. For the rest of the year, it is not that much profitable for a farmer to grow the fruit. However, the Chinese farmer used LED lights to produce more fruits and by doing that he could grow the fruit for at least nine months.

The Chinese farmer in Shin Shin told me that he had 800 dragon fruit trees on each acre of land. In a total, he has 32,000 dragon trees on 40 acres of land. He was claiming that he is the only farmer in Guangdong province using LED lights to grow dragon fruits.

“In winter, the day is short. So, to increase the length of the day, I turn on the LED lights at evening and dawn for two hours,” said the Chinese farmer.

Many entrepreneurs in Bangladesh have been inspired by watching the documentary. I have heard many have already done it and others to start it. It’s very inspiring to see the same thing while I visited Comfit Composite Knit Ltd. It’s very similar to the farms I have been across the world that use LED lights to increase the daylight which allows higher production. As Comfit did the same thing watching HMOM, it would certainly be an extension of good agricultural practice through media. I discussed with Engineer Kawser Ali, chief operating officer (COO) of the factory.

“When did you start?”

“In 2012.”

“Have you seen this tree before?”

“No, I mean I have, but I didn’t know that it grew fruits.”

“You only saw the tree.”

“Yes, we used to call it cactus.”

“I have seen the fruits for the first time at Kamruzzaman’s orchard in Natore,” Kawser said.

“Did an episode on his orchard back in 2009,” I said.

“Yes, I brought the seedlings from him,” added Kawser.

Comfit is doing their dragon fruit orchard experimentally with only 125 trees. There are pillars, each carrying white LED bulbs hanging from above. This technology has increased production, says the authority.

“Where did you first see this LED technology?” I asked Kawser.

“First through your episode on China. We were highly inspired to try it and we did it this year,” replied Kawser.

“Now, what is the result of using this light?” I asked.

“Well, we started this year before monsoon and so far it’s going pretty well,” he replied.

“You turn the lights on at evening, right?”

“Yes.”

“How long do you keep them on?”

“Till 10:00pm to 10:30pm.”

This garments management has also started rooftop farming. They have constructed another building just beside the factory. I could see the green rooftop from the dragon orchard. I have seen many other factories where roofs are left abandoned. The owner is highly conscious about ensuring a green environment.

They are cultivating different varieties of fish in a pond and have a lemon orchard as well.

“So, where did this motivation come from?” I asked Kawser.

“Our Managing Director Firoz Alam felt that there is no better tool for natural beautification than greenery. Another reason is to meet our nutrition demand. It is risky to have vegetables from outside. They are adulterated. We are also doing rooftop farming as you can see which we distribute among the employees,” said Kawser.

They have planted Vietnamese coconut trees, different varieties of vegetables, flower, mango and cultivated fish alongside pigeon and bird firm.

Dear readers, let me tell you that the use of LED lights started in the farming sector at Pasona O2, an underground farm located in a former bank vault within the bowels of Japan’s business district Tokyo back in 2005.

Also in the Netherlands, crops are grown under controlled light system, temperature and humidity at GreenQ since 2016. With usual sunlight farmers of the Netherlands could grow 80 kilogram of tomato from a single plant. However, using LED lights they can grow 90 kilogram tomato in the greenhouse of GreenQ.

Kawser says they’re getting great results using LED lights.

“What benefits are you getting using LED lights?”

“More yields and size and quantity both far better.”

“Do you think the lights played a role here?”

“Yes, this change took place in a year. Compared to the last year, we’re getting better yields, using the lights.”

“We have already harvested three times this year and preparing to get the fourth,” says Kawser.

“How much a tree produces in a season?” I asked.

“30 kilogram from start to finish,” Kawser replied.

“And, the size?” I asked.

“Each weighs around 400 to 500 grams,” he said.

“What fertilizer do you use?” I asked.

“We use TSP, urea, potash, cow dung and compost fertiliser,” he replied.

Finally, the sun was about to set in the western sky and as soon as the sun went down, the lights switched on. It was beautiful to watch from up close. It felt like farming has changed drastically in our country and the global use of technology is gradually reaching the fields of Bangladesh.

Through trial and error, Comfit Composite Knit Ltd is moving onwards with dragon fruit farming under LED lights. Indeed, we are in the age of technology now. Thousands of technologies are being used in the farming sector. Every day something new is arriving. Those who are welcoming technology out of passion or commercial purpose, new dimensions farming are opening for them. However, it is very important to have a clear concept of technology. It is essential to know what is good or bad. I believe that educated and progressive entrepreneurs will go far ahead using technology in the farming sector. I also hope these technologies will also reach the farmers across the country. When all our farmers would be able to use diversified technologies in different crops, the production will be boosted for sure.

Dear readers, while documenting the video at Comfit, its Managing Director Feroz Alam was very sick and that is why I couldn’t interview him. Feroz passed away before the programme was broadcast on Channel i and he won’t be able to read this article either. May his green soul rest in peace.

Source:  https://www.thedailystar.net/country/news/growing-dragon-fruits-using-led-lights-1821193