Dinajpur farmers worried as adverse weather threatens litchi crops

DINAJPUR, May 07 (bdnews24.com): The persistent heat in Dinajpur discrict is threatening this season's litchi crops.
Farmers say litchi trees were filled with buds at the start of the season, but the heat has caused litchi to fall while they are still small.
Though the Bombay variety of litchis is still in good condition, nearly half the crop of the Bedena, Madrasi, China Three and Kathali varieties are endangered. Farmers are continuing to try different ways to ensure they get a good harvest this year.
Mosaddek Hossain, an orchard owner who produces honey from litchis in Dinajpur, said, "The litchi seeds are falling from the trees due to the strong sunshine and the heatwave. Even with irrigation, the yield cannot be saved. If this situation persists, we won't produce even half the amount of litchis this time." However, Mosaddek noted that the Bombay variety was producing a good harvest. "This variety of litchi buds first and reaches the market first too. These buds saw some rain, which is why the Bombay litchi is good this year."
Farmers say that Dinajpur - a district known for its litchis - saw a good harvest last year. But litchis can burst in the heat due to over-ripening, causing suffering for farmers. This year, though the litchi trees budded, the adverse weather has had an impact.
Imran Ahsan, assistant horticulture development officer at the Dinajpur Horticulture Centre, said though conditions had been ripe for litchis this year, many had been damaged by the heat.
"The buds of the Bedena, Madrasi, China Three, China Two and Kathali withered and fell. The Bombay litchi buds remained normal. Due to the prevailing weather, there is a high risk that we will not get the desired yield this time."
Under these conditions, vitamins, fertilisers, and pesticides should be used on the roots of the trees, he said. They should also be watered before the evening.
According to information from the district's Department of Agricultural Extension, litchi has been planted on 5,500 hectares of land in the district this year. The harvest was expected to produce about 30,000 metric tonnes of the fruit.