Pabna country's largest litchi producing district
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
PABNA, June 4 (UNB): Pabna has become the largest litchi-producing district in the country for its suitable soil and weather.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said that for the last few years litchis are increasingly being cultivated in the district and growers are achieving good harvest due to its suitable soil and favourable weather.
Ishwardi Upazila, best litchi producer of the district, has been called the 'Capital of Litchi' for the last 10 years.
Some 20 villages of the upazila, including Mirkamari, Joynagar, Jagannathpur, Bakc-harpur, Chhalimpur, Shahpur and Diar Shahpur, are famous for litchi production.
About 2,000 people are now involved with the litchi cultivation in the district at present. But the numbers of litchi cultivators are increasing day by day due to its easy cultivation and low production cost.
Litchi traders buy and carry the juicy and tasty fruit to different parts of the district, including the capital, from the district.
The fruit is also being exported to foreign countries, including UK and UAE, and is playing important role in earning foreign exchange for the country.
Moreover, the farmers are also gaining profit by cultivating vegetables in the garden alongside the litchi throughout the year.
But the farmers alleged that they do not get fair price as the middlemen give advance money to them for their cultivation keeping them hostage. Later, they buy litchi from them at throwaway prices.
This season, the cultivators have achieved a bumper production of litchi breaking all the previous records, DAE sources said.
Farmers have brought 1,500 hectares of land under litchi cultivation and the juicy fruit produced in 950 hectares this season and they are expecting a bumper production of 1,200 tonnes worth Tk 1 billion.
Farmers have started harvesting litchi and are selling per 1,000 litchi at Tk 1,700. Ketabuddin Mondol, a litchi cultivator of Mirkamari village in Ishwardi Upazila, said he made litchi orchards on his 50 bighas of land.
This season, he has already sold litchi from 25 bighas at Tk 1.80 million and is expecting to sell litchi of Tk 5 million in the next season.
When contacted, the cultivators said that the litchi production could be increased much more if the government establishes a litchi preservation centre and a litchi research centre in the district.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said that for the last few years litchis are increasingly being cultivated in the district and growers are achieving good harvest due to its suitable soil and favourable weather.
Ishwardi Upazila, best litchi producer of the district, has been called the 'Capital of Litchi' for the last 10 years.
Some 20 villages of the upazila, including Mirkamari, Joynagar, Jagannathpur, Bakc-harpur, Chhalimpur, Shahpur and Diar Shahpur, are famous for litchi production.
About 2,000 people are now involved with the litchi cultivation in the district at present. But the numbers of litchi cultivators are increasing day by day due to its easy cultivation and low production cost.
Litchi traders buy and carry the juicy and tasty fruit to different parts of the district, including the capital, from the district.
The fruit is also being exported to foreign countries, including UK and UAE, and is playing important role in earning foreign exchange for the country.
Moreover, the farmers are also gaining profit by cultivating vegetables in the garden alongside the litchi throughout the year.
But the farmers alleged that they do not get fair price as the middlemen give advance money to them for their cultivation keeping them hostage. Later, they buy litchi from them at throwaway prices.
This season, the cultivators have achieved a bumper production of litchi breaking all the previous records, DAE sources said.
Farmers have brought 1,500 hectares of land under litchi cultivation and the juicy fruit produced in 950 hectares this season and they are expecting a bumper production of 1,200 tonnes worth Tk 1 billion.
Farmers have started harvesting litchi and are selling per 1,000 litchi at Tk 1,700. Ketabuddin Mondol, a litchi cultivator of Mirkamari village in Ishwardi Upazila, said he made litchi orchards on his 50 bighas of land.
This season, he has already sold litchi from 25 bighas at Tk 1.80 million and is expecting to sell litchi of Tk 5 million in the next season.
When contacted, the cultivators said that the litchi production could be increased much more if the government establishes a litchi preservation centre and a litchi research centre in the district.