Ishwardi litchi farmers happy to get good prices
Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
The litchi farmers and local traders are happy to get good prices after selling indigenous variety of litchi in the market this season.
Mozaffar (flour litchi) of indigenous litchi came in the market about 15 days ago. Now is the time to break the improved Bombay and China three varieties of litchi. Hybrid species Bombay and China litchis have started breaking out in gardens.
According to the Agriculture Office, Ishwardi has 3,100 hectares of litchi plantations. The production limit has been fixed at 33 thousand 500 metric tons. Litchi is being cultivated in Chalimpur, Dashuria, Sahapur, Pakshi and Lakshikunda unions. Among them, almost every house in Chalimpur and Sahapur Union has litchi trees and gardens.
Generally three varieties of litchi yield well in Ishwardi. These are Mozaffar or Desi litchi, Bombay and China-3. Apart from this, Kadmi, Kanthali, Bedana, China-1 and China-2 varieties of litchi are cultivated here. Mozaffar or desi litchi comes first in the market. Bombay and China-3 litchis ripen after a few days but are more valued in the market. It is also sold at a higher price. China lychee looks similar to native lychee but is smaller in size.
During the season, about 500 crore worth of litchi is produced in Ishwardi every year. But adverse weather conditions and climate change have affected the yield of litchi. This time only 40-50% of Bombay litchi trees have sprouted. In the meantime, intense heat wave is prevailing in Ishwardi. No rain drops. The temperature is hovering around 38-43 degrees. Sustained heat causes the litchi to burst and drop off the plant before it matures. Each 3.00-3.50 taka of the farmer’s dream litchi fell on the ground and began to eat loot.
After many mishaps and fears, litchi has risen to the status of Ishwardi, known as the capital of Bombay litchi. Bunches of colorful litchi are hanging from the trees. Litchi is picked from the garden and taken in baskets to different wholesale markets of Ishwardi. From there, traders from different parts of the country are taking litchi to their respective areas in trucks. In addition to Ishwardi’s Sahapur, Aotapara and Jayanagar litchi spots, litchi is also being sold from gardens. Despite many disappointments, litchi farmers are seeing the light of hope as the price is high. All in all, an atmosphere of litchi festival has been created in Ishwardi. Wholesalers from different parts of the country have thronged the places of Ishwardi. Good prices are available because supply is less than demand. Aslam Bhuiyan, who came to Ishwardi to collect litchi from Kawran Bazar in Dhaka, said that every thousand litchi from the garden has to be bought for 2.5 to 3 thousand 500 taka. In addition to this, the cost of each thousand litchis to reach the wholesale market of Dhaka, including labor costs, market costs and transportation costs, is 3 thousand 500 to 3 thousand 900 taka. As a result, good litchi cannot be found in the market of Dhaka under four thousand taka. Aslam said that he bought between 1,700 and 2,000 taka from the same litchi garden last year.
Rezaul Karim, dealer of the wholesale haat of Jainagar Shimultala Mokam in Chalimpur, said that during the litchi season last year, 12 to 15 trucks of litchi were supplied from this haat to different markets of the country every day. This year it has come down to 8 to 10 trucks.
Sheikh Miraj, a litchi grower and businessman of Sahapur Mantri Mor area, said that out of 80 litchi trees, 45 to 50 trees have yielded well this year. Excessive rain during budding and lack of rain during growth and severe droughts of litchi did not yield the desired yield. But getting a good price has paid off a lot.
Bablu Malitha, Chairman of Chalimpur UP said that there are many farmers who are dependent only on litchi cultivation. But this time is a bad time for litchi. The price of Bombay litchi is high due to low yield. As it is sold at the price of 3 thousand to 3 thousand 500 per thousand, some farmers are free from fear.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said that despite the adverse effects of nature, litchi business will be worth Tk 500 to 550 crore in Iswardi this year due to high prices. About 33 thousand 500 metric tons of litchi can be obtained from about 3 thousand 100 hectares of land.
