ZCZC
BSS-09
PRODUCTION-LITCHI-RANGPUR (with picture)
Farmers produced 1,552 tonnes litchi in Rangpur region
RANGPUR, June 29, 2019 (BSS) – The farmers have produced 15,225 tonnes of
the juicy seasonal fruit “litchi” worth Taka 152 crore in Rangpur agriculture
region after completing its harvest last week this season.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) officials, the
region witnessed a bumper litchi production and excellent business creating
huge jobs for farm-labourers in harvesting, processing and marketing of the
fruit.
Talking to BSS, both litchi growers and traders expressed their happiness
over bumper production, better price and excellent business of the seasonal
fruit.
Litchi traders Mona Hossain at Rangpur City Bazar said bigger litchi
traders, who came from Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail and other places of the
country, already returned from Rangpur region after completing litchi
business.
“At the initial stage of harvest, every 100 pieces of Bombay, Mozaffarpuri
and Madrazi varieties of litchi were sold at rates between Taka 200 and 300
while China-3 variety between Taka 350 and 450,” said litchi trader Belal
Hossain at the market.
Besides, every 100 pieces of Bedana litchi was sold at rates between Taka
450 and 600 in local markets two weeks back.
“However, every 100 pieces of the aristocrat Bedana variety litchi were
sold at rates between Taka 700 and 800 and China-3 variety at Taka 500 to 600
at the end of harvesting period,” litchi trader Babu Mian said.
“Besides, late varieties of ‘Kanthali’ and ‘Elachi’ litchi were sold at
rates between Taka 250 and 400 per every 100 pieces this season,” Babu added.
Talking to BSS, Horticulture Specialist of DAE at its regional office here
Agriculturist Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam said litchi farming is expanding
every year bringing fortune to many farmers.
The farmers had cultivated litchi on 1,750 hectares of land and produced
15,225 tonnes of litchi worth Taka 152 crore with an average yield rate of
8.70 tonnes per hectare in the region this season.
“The farmers cultivated litchi on 1,551 hectares of land and produced
13,285 tonnes of the fruit worth Taka 133 crore in 2017 and on 1,566 hectares
and produced 14,848 tonnes of litchi worth Taka 148 crore in 2018 in the
region,” Islam added.
Additional Director of DAE for Rangpur region Muhammad Ali said cultivation
of litchi on commercial basis has made many farmers self-reliant bringing a
silent revolution in the agro-economy in the region in last 10 years.
“Litchi cultivation has become a very profitable venture than cultivating
many other crops enabling farmers to earn Taka 1.50-lakh to Taka two-lakh per
acre of land annually,” he said.
Talking to BSS, litchi grower Hasanul Haque of Balapara Dilalpur village in
Badarganj upazila here said he cultivated litchi in his orchard on three
acres of land and earned a net profit of over Taka five-lakh this year.
“I have been cultivating Madrazi and China-3 varieties of litchi in my
orchard on commercial basis for the past 12 consecutive years without
incurring any loss,” he said.
Farmers Ekramul Haque of the same village and Shahidul Haque of nearby
village Balapara had cultivated Madrazi, Bombay and China-3 varieties of
litchi on their orchards of 70 decimals and two acres of land respectively.
They got bumper production of the fruit and earned better profits this time
like in the previous eight consecutive years.
Similarly, farmer Harish Chandra of Salaipur village in Mithapukur upazila
here said he had cultivated China-3 and Madrazi varieties of litchi in their
orchards on one acre of land each and earned better profits this time.
BSS/SPL/MI/SSS/1517 hrs