Litchi production overtakes last year’s yield in Panchagarh

PANCHAGARH, Jun 02 (BSS): Litchi has arrived in the local markets of the district.

The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) sources said the farmers are happy as this year's output has reached beyond their expectation.

The commercial cultivation of litchi was started about 10-year ago in the district and is increasing every year, the sources said.

Some 1,000 hectares of land has been brought under litchi cultivation in the district this year whereas it was 850 hectares last year. This year's per hectare expected outcome is 525 tonnes whereas 495 tonnes in previous year, the sources added.

Five varieties of litchi- local variety, China-2, 3 and 4 and Bombay- are grown by the farmers in the district. Among them, China-2, 3 and 4 are on great demand in markets.

A bundle of 50 of local variety litchi is being sold at Tk 100 to Tk 150 in the local markets now.

Farmer Abdul Malek of Dangapara village under Debiganj upazila said, "I sold my litchi orchard on two acres of land at Tk 0.3 million to the wholesaler."

Md Samchul Huque, deputy director of Panchagarh DAE, told the news agency that this year's production of litchi is good than earlier.