Commercial cultivation of the most delicious, juicy and fleshy seasonal fruit litchi has become popular in the region as the farming in the recent years changed the fortune of hundreds of farmers through economic self-reliance.
According to officials and experts of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), a bumper litchi production is likely this time like in the previous seasons in the northern districts following a massive budding so far and favourable climatic conditions.
Horticulture specialist of the DAE Khondker M Mesbahul Islam said commercial basis litchi cultivation has already become popular in recent years due to economic prospect of the farming the tasty fruit.
“Over 95 percent litchi trees in over 8,850 small, medium and big-sized litchi orchards and homesteads have already bloomed massively and fruit setting stage is now underway amid a favourable climactic condition predicting better production this season,” he said.
The farmers have been cultivating high yielding varieties including China-3 and Bedana and early varieties like Bombay and Madrazi litchi on more lands in the area every year following repeated bumper production and lucrative price of the fruit, he added. Deputy director of the DAE Feroz Ahmed and Agronomist Anarul Haque said commercial litchi cultivation has become popular everywhere in the region as hundreds of farmers have achieved self-reliance through farming the fruits in recent years.
The experts suggested the farmers to spray 80 percent sulpher on litchi tress if mite attack is found following rise in temperature during fruit formation stage after budding for getting a better production.
They also asked for spraying ‘Mentozeb’ or ‘Propikonazole’ as per recommended dose to prevent powdery nose mildew or anthrax those might attack the young leaves or blooming flower twigs or buds following rise in temperature amid cloudy sky.
Talking to BSS, successful litchi framer Atiar Rahman of village Damodarpur near Baro Maidan under Sadar upazila here said that all of his 300 litchi trees have excellent flowering this year.
Litchi growers Aminul Haque, Shahidul Islam, Nilchand Roy, Rashid Mamun, Rostam Ali, Abdus Sobhan and Sachindra Nath said they are expecting a bumper litchi production this year like in the previous seasons to earn excellent profits.
