RAJSHAHI, April 20, 2018 (BSS)- Eye-catching fruit setting has created a high hope among farmers and others concerned including scientists, researchers and traders about bumper litchi production during the upcoming harvesting season.
According to the sources concerned the litchi trees here are now full of young fruits. By virtue of favourable climatic condition, so far, litchi growers are hopeful of a good harvesting of the juicy fruit this year.
While visiting some of the litchi-producing areas on Monday, this reporter found that the growers were very busy in taking care of their trees with hope of getting more yield.
Anwar Hossain, a farmer of Nandangachhi village under Charghat upazila, said climatic condition seems favourable for litchi and he was hoping a good yield this year.
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 MonsurRahman 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.
Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station, said mild-cold weather is necessity during flowering period and dry weather after the flowering for a sound growth of litchi fruit.
The weather was mild and there was no rainfall after flowering this year when flowering occurred in litchi. There was also no heavy rain rather a moderate rainfall after the emergence of green litchi ushers a smooth growth of the fruit till the emergence of young litchi.
As a result of such unique condition of weather, farmers and officials of agriculture extension were expecting a bumper production of litchi this year, Dr Alim added.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture Extension Deb Dulal Dhali said many people were self reliant by cultivating litchi and making litchi orchards in their fields.
So far litchi has been cultivated on around 476 hectares of land and more than four tonnes of litchi is expected to be produced in the district this year.
DD of DAE Dhali said there was no apprehension of any damage of litchi fruit. So far the climatic condition for growth of litchi remained favourable.
Dr Alim Uddin said the number of orchards has been increased here during last couples of years. Presently, there are nearly 100 litchi orchards in the district.
Moreover, there are hundreds of litchi trees near homesteads or courtyards of villages. Varieties of litchi including high yield variety of China-3, Bombay and Madras varieties are being cultivated.
He said litchi is being cultivated commercially in various areas of the city and in Bagmara, Durgapur, Puthia, Paba and Godagari upazilas of the district. Farmers were now busy of taking care of the litchi.