Litchi growers of the district, agriculturists and other traders concerned are expecting a bumper production of litchi as most of the trees have sprouted massively by dint of a favourable climatic condition during this season.
The litchi growers in the district are passing busy days carrying for their orchards in order to ensure maximum output of the mouth-watering tropical fruit litchi, said agriculturalist Ashraful Islam of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) of the district.
Litchi is grown all over Bangladesh but the favourable climate and soil conditions in some northern districts, such as Dinajpur, are much more conducive. As the litchi produced in the district is delicious. This litchi is very demandable all over the country as it is tasty and sweet. So this litchi is supplied to different parts of the country, DAE official said.
The growers of the district have been cultivating high-yielding varieties including China-3, Bedana, Bombay and Madrazi and Kathali litchi in their orchards following repeated bumper productions and high prices.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Nuruzzaman Miah said that the target of litchi cultivation has been set up on 4,480 hectares of land in the district this year.
He said the massive spouting predicts bumper litchi production this season in the district if the climatic condition remains favourable till the last week of May next. A 15-year-old tree can produce around 10,000 to 15,000 pieces of litchis yearly.
He said that the government has decided to export the delicious litchi of Dinajpur to western countries. Litchi cultivation in the district has increased every year as litchi production is profitable. If the weather is favourable and there is no natural disaster, there will be a record amount of litchi yield in the district.
DAE official sources said Sadar, Biral, Chirirbandar, Birganj, Khansama, Phulbari, Birampur, Nawabganj and Ghoraghat upazilas are famous for litchi cultivation.
After visiting some of the litchi-producing areas recently, litchi trees in every orchard and homestead of the district have started budding. The area has started to flourish with the buzz of bees blooming with the buds. The orchard owners are expecting a bumper yield of these types of litchi due to favourable weather conditions.
"We take care of the tree year-round but they need special care as soon as they start flowering. The budding period after flowering is most important," said Golam Mostafa, the owner of litchi orchards in Masimpur village under Sadar upazila of the district.
Irrigation should be done 15 days before the flowering and 15 days after the flowering. Accordingly, as soon as the buds appear on the trees, litchi farmers and traders are spraying to sustain the buds. Also, water and fertilizer are being given regularly at the base of the tree so that the buds do not fall off, he said.
Another litchi grower Matiur Rahman of Biral upazila said that care should be started as soon as litchi flowers start to appear. Regular spraying and irrigation have been started. Litchi traders from various areas like Rajshahi, Rangpur, Chattogram and Dhaka have started coming since the last few days when litchi trees started blooming and they are buying litchi plantations in advance.
Suitable soil, favourable climate and optimum prices are the reasons behind the massive cultivation of the fruit. Litchi grower Matiur Rahman said they are earning excellent profits every year through farming litchi in their orchards.
Agriculturalist Ashraful Islam, assistant director of the DAE, said, last year China-3 litchi yield was not very good due to bad weather and natural calamities. For this, with the advance advice of the litchi growers, in China-3 litchi orchards, sufficient food has been provided to these litchi trees by applying dung fertilizer and water irrigation at the base of the trees. A bumper production of the juiciest fleshy fruit is expected this season.
Training Officer of Dinajpur DAE Safayet Hossain said that the agriculture officers have been giving regular advice to the growers and the agriculture department is supporting litchi orchards owners to achieve the bumper litchi yield.
