RAJSHAHI, March 4, 2019 (BSS) – Growers, agriculturists and other traders
concerned are expecting bumper production of litchi as most of the trees have
sprouted massively by dint of a suitable climatic condition everywhere in the
region.
While visiting some of the litchi-producing areas, this correspondent found
that the growers were very busy taking care of their trees with hope of
getting more yield.
Principal Scientific Officer of Fruit Research Center Dr Alim Uddin said
massive budding in the litchi trees amid the favorable climatic condition
predicts a bumper production of the juiciest fleshy fruit this season.
He said the trees have started getting fruit-setting stage after ending the
budding phase due to the favorable weather.
Litchi cultivation has become very popular as hundreds of farmers have
achieved self-reliance through farming the fruits on a commercial basis in
recent years.
The farmers and commoners have been cultivating high yielding varieties
including China-3 and Bedana and early varieties like Bombay and Madrazi
litchi on more lands following repeated bumper productions and lucrative
prices.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources said more than 90
percent litchi trees of all the small, medium and big-sized litchi orchards
and homesteads have blossomed.
Shamsul Haque, deputy director of the DAE, Rajshahi, said the massive
spouting predicts bumper litchi production this season in the region if the
climatic condition remains favourable till June next.
He said a five-year old tree can produce around 100 to 150 kilograms of
litchis which are equivalent to 2,000 to 6,000 pieces of fruits in number. By
cultivating the fruit most of the families at Bargachhi, Bagsara, Charghat
and Bagha have become economically solvent.
Horticulturist Dr Saifur Rahman said litchi farming on a commercial basis
expands faster bringing fortunes to hundreds of farmers for repeated bumper
production and excellent market price.
Hundreds of litchi orchards have been set up on cultivable lands on
homesteads in the region, he said.
Suitable soil, favorable climate and optimum prices are the reasons behind
massive cultivation of the fruit.
Litchi grower Monsur Rahman said they are earning excellent profits every
year through farming litchi on their orchard.
Abul Hashem, a school teacher, said he has cultivated 40 litchi trees on
two bighas of land last year and he sold litchis worth Tk 250,000 from his
orchard.
Traders from various places including Dhaka, Chattogram and Barisal come
here to buy litchis every year.
ATM Rafiqul Islam, Deputy Manager (Agriculture) of Barind Multipurpose
Development Authority, expressed satisfaction over massive budding in litchi
trees and expected the bumper production due to prevailing favourable
climatic condition this season.