Magura growers expect good yield of litchi

MAGURA, Mar 18: Litchi trees in Magura have taken a captivating look with huge flowers predicting a good yield of juicy litchi.

Farmers said, earlier litchi brought from outside met the local demand of this district dwellers. But a positive change has come in this regard as farmers of the district are now sending litchi outside of the district meeting up local demand.

Magura Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) sources informed, this year a total of 520 hectares of land have been brought under litchi cultivation in the district. 90 per cent of the litchi trees in the district have already bloomed. Isakhada, Alamkhali, Kanchanpur, Raghobdair, Alaipur Hazrapur, Hazipur, Rautara, Kashinathpur and Meerjapur under Magura sadar upazila are the villages where litchi is cultivated on a large scale.

From 1992 litchi started to be cultivated in the district commercially. At present this district holds at least 2000 litchi orchards. Mainly 5 variety litchi respectively Hazrpaury, Mozaffarpury, Chian 3, Bombai and Madrazi are being cultivated in the district. If favourable weather prevails litchi farmers in the district will earn Tk 200 million this season. More than 2000 people in the district while approximately 5000 people directly or indirectly are dependent on litchi farming for their livelihood.

Sekendar Ali, a farmer of village Alamkhali under Magura sadar upazila said, "Last year I brought 2 bighas of land under litchi cultivation and earned Tk 0.1 million as profit. This year I have extended my cultivation and I am cultivating litchi in 4 bighas of land and I am expecting Tk 0.2 million as profit."

Another farmer Noim Reza of village Rautara under Magura sadar upazila said, "For 20 years I am cultivating litchi in my land. Litchi farming has brought solvency in my family. Earlier we cultivated paddy in our land, but we got very poor production. Following the advice of DAE officials we started to cultivate litchi and this farming is now turning our wheel of fortune."

Magura DAE official Abdur Rashid said, "More than 25 year farmers in the district are cultivating litchi commercially. Litchi cultivation is increasing in the district unexpectedly. If favourable weather prevails litchi farmers in the district will be able to achieve a lucrative profit this year."

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