Despite hostile weather and some other difficulties, production of litchi in the district has been more than the target this year as farmers used various technologies. But the summer fruit has grown smaller than usual on average due to various diseases and drought.
Yet the local Department of Agriculture Extension is expecting production of litchi worth more than Tk 500 in the district prominent for its cultivation.
This would be highest ever production.
Selling of litchis has already started in different orchards of Ishwardi upazila, one of the areas famous for producing the fruit.
Since there is no preservation system for the perishable item, farmers are being deprived of its fair price.
Farmers have been demanding establishment of a conservatory and research centre for litchi in the district for long.
For absence of preservation facilities, they are forced to sell lichi at low price without caring for so much profit to pay the debt to traders.
Traders usually lease litchi orchards by giving farmers money in advance.
By cultivating lichi about 30,000 families of the district have become self-reliant.
Sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Pabna, said various types of litchi including the local ones and ‘Bombay’ and ‘Chinese’ varieties are cultivated in the district.
The target of litchi cultivation this year was set at 3,100 hectares of land.
But the cultivation was done on about 200 hectares more than the target.
Thirty villages of Ishwardi upazila, including Meerkamari, Joynagar, Jagannathpur, Bokcharpur, Chhalimpur, Shahpur and Diar Shahpur have good name for their litchi production.
Besides, 15 villages including Ugragar, Joardah and Hamidpur of Sadar upazila and Chatmohar and Atgharia have produced huge litchis this year.
It will take a few more days for marketing of China-2 and China-3 of ‘Bombay’ variety of litchi.
Trading of local variety of litchi has already started.
Of the 30,000 families involved in lichi cultivation in the district, 15,000 are in Ishwardi upazila alone.
For the last 20 years, the farmers have been getting benefited from litchi farming.
Every year, at least 30-40 hectares of land are being transformed into new gardens of litchi.Compared to other crops, production cost of litchi is low but profit from it is higher.
As a result, the farmers are becoming interested in the production of the succulent summer fruit.
Market sources said price of local variety of litchi is Tk 150 to Tk200 per hundred while price of Bombay and China varieties is Tk 250to Tk 300 per hundred.
Lichi farmer Reaz uddin Sardar said due tohostile weather 25 per cent lichi dropped out and for this reason theproduction will be less.
Traders are sending litchis from Pabna todifferent places including capital Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisaland Jessore by trucks.Litchis also exported to Europe and Middle East.
Deputy director of DAE, Pabna, Mustafizur Rahman said Pabna ranks first in production of litchi, followed by Dinajpur and Rajshahi.
Therefore, it is necessary to establish a national research centre and training institute on fruits including lichi.
Related Posts
