RANGPUR, March 30, 2018 (BSS) – Smooth formation of tender litchi continues amid favorable climatic condition predicting a bumper production of the seasonal fruit this season in Rangpur agriculture region.
Officials and experts of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) as well as litchi growers are expecting an abundant production of the juiciest and fleshy fruit following excellent blossoming in the litchi trees this year.
The DAE officials said over 95 percent of litchi trees in the small, medium and big-sized litchi orchards and homesteads on about 1,650 hectares of land have bloomed massively this season in all five districts under the region.
“During the lasts season, the farmers cultivated litchi on 1,551 heaters of land and produced 13,285 tonnes of the seasonal fruit worth over Taka 133 crore in the region,” said Horticulture Specialist of the DAE at its regional office Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.
The farmers have cultivated litchi on about 100 hectares of land more this season than last year in the region where its commercial basis cultivation has been expanding and bringing self-reliance to thousands of farmers through farming the fruit in recent years.
“The farmers have been mostly cultivating high yielding varieties like China-3, ‘Bedana’, Bombay, ‘Mozaffarpuri’ and Madrazi and late variety ‘Kanthali’ litchi following repeated bumper production and lucrative price every year,” Islam mentioned.
Horticulturist Islam also suggested farmers for spraying 80 percent Sulphur on litchi tress if mite attack was found following rise in temperature during fruit formation stage after budding from mid-March for getting excellent production.
“The farmers can also spray ‘Mentozeb’ or ‘Propikonazole’ as per recommended dose to prevent powdery nose mildew or anthrax those might attack young leaves or blooming buds following rise in temperature amid cloudy sky,” he added.
Talking to BSS, litchi growers Aminur Rahman, Abdus Sobhan and Alim Uddin of Badarganj, Taraganj and Sadar upazilas here said they are expecting bumper litchi yield this time like in the previous seasons.
Farmers Mokbular Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman and Noman Ali of Birampur, Hakimpur and Birganj upazilas in Dinajpur expressed happiness over smooth litchi formation after excellent blossoming to get bumper production this season.
Deputy Director of the DAE at its regional office Md Moniruzzaman also predicted bumper litchi production following excellent flowering and smooth formation of tender litchi at this stage amid favourable climatic condition.
Regional Additional Director of the DAE Md Shah Alam expressed satisfaction over excellent budding in the litchi trees and predicted bumper production of the fruit if the climatic condition remains favourable in the region this season.