RANGPUR, Mar 06: The litchi cultivators in eight districts under Rangpur division are likely to achieve a good yield of the popular fruit during this season, as the trees have already bloomed massively this spring.
Sources said the growers are earning good profit through the cultivation of the fruit in recent years which is encouraging them to enhance its cultivation this year.
More than 85 per cent of the litchi trees in the orchards and homesteads have already bloomed in the region. The growers have been cultivating the Madrazi and Bombay varieties of litchis on around 60 per cent of lands and varieties like Bedana, China -2, China-3 and some other varieties in rest of the areas.
Visiting different areas of the region this FE correspondent found the growers taking care of their litchi trees with much enthusiasm. This year farmers of the division made vigorous efforts with the hope to get expected output as well as handsome profit from the sale of the popular fruit.
Mainul Islam, a grower of litchi at Dangapara village in Taraganj upazila in Rangpur said he preferred farming fruits due to high profit in comparison with many other crops.
During the last few years he has been getting a good yield as well as handsome profit from the farming of the litchi, he said.
Abul Mia (55), another litchi grower at Ranipukur area under Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district told this FE correspondent that he has 100 litchi trees in his orchard.
He has cultivated China-3 variety of litchi in this season. Around 90 per cent litchi trees in his orchard have already bloomed. If the weather remains congenial he is optimistic about achieving a bumper production of it this year, he added.
DAE, Rangpur official sources said owing to good profit the farmers are getting interested to cultivate different varieties of fruits including litchi. As a result huge number of fruits orchard have been set up across the region in recent years. The department has taken various steps including timely supply of necessary agri-inputs and advices to boost up production of different fruits including litchi across the region.
There might be a satisfactory production of litchis this year in the region as the climatic condition remains conducive, sources added.
Meanwhile, our roving correspondent from Chapainawabganj said: Massive sprouting of litchi is predicting a bumper output accompanied by favourable climatic condition upcoming season across northern districts.
The field-level agriculture officials of DAE visit all the litchi orchards regularly and give the growers necessary suggestion regarding the farming.
The officials said, "We are happy witnessing a massive sprouting with the advent of spring."
Sub-assistant agriculture officer of DAE Abul Basar said, "Litchi cultivation is expanding in the region as farmers are showing more on commercial farming of the popular summer fruit."
Farmer Abdur Rahman said he has a litchi orchard on 56 decimals of land.
The grower said farmers of the region are expecting to make Tk 20 million profit this season.