Farmers eye optimum litchi yield at Durgapur

RAJSHAHI, Mar 20: Farmers here are expecting a bumper production of litchi as most of the trees have sprouted massively by dint of a suitable climatic condition at different areas of Durgapur upazila in the district.
Now they are passing busy days for taking care of the
flowers.
During a recent visit in different litchi-producing areas, this correspondent found that the growers were very busy in taking care of their trees with hope of getting more yields. They are using pesticides in the litchi orchards to avoid the attack of insects.  
Most of the litchi trees in the upazila are adorned with golden-yellow colour of buds. Few of the trees are seen with tender litchi. Farmers are hoping to get good profit this year from litchi cultivation.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in the upazila, a total of 225 hectares of land have been brought under litchi gardens this year. The farmers cultivated verity species of litchi this season namely Chaina-3, Bombay, Kathilal, Bedana etc. If the weather goes well, the litchi production will be double compared to the last year, he informed.
Though the buds didn't come to light in the right time, but now 80 to 90 percent trees have blossomed.
It was seen that more buds are in middle and small category trees than big trees. The wind also gives the fresh scent of buds which brings boon to the face of farmers for a better production this year.
Talking to the Daily Observer, Inser Ali, a litchi grower of Kathalbaria village of the upazila, said "Many litchi growers have been earning good amount of money for last couple of the years. All of his trees have blossomed due to favorable weather in this year. So we are expecting a better production".
Another farmer of Kanpara village said that the litchi here tastes very sweet. He earned Tk over 60,000 selling litchi from his five trees last year. He is expecting a bumper litchi production in this year as well, he added.
Local litchi businessmen said that they buy litchi from this upazila and supply to different districts including the capital. If the weather goes well, they would able to make a good business in this year.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Dr Bimol Kumar Paramanik said that the farmers here are showing more interest in litchi cultivation having bumper litchi production with fair market price in the last couple of years. Around 90 percent of the trees have blossomed due to favorable.
Now farmers are passing very busy time in take care of litchi orchards and agriculture officers are regularly suggesting them to spray insecticide on the trees to avoid attack of insects, the officer added.