Ishwardi litchi sales may hit Tk 700cr, speakers say
Speakers at a Litchi Festival and Agro-Trade Fair noted that the soil and climate of Ishwardi are highly suitable for litchi cultivation. They expressed optimism that litchi sales in the area could reach approximately Tk 700 crore during the current season.
The Litchi Festival and Agro-Trade Fair was held at the grounds of Mirkamari Ideal High School in Salimpur Union of Ishwardi Upazila, Pabna, organised by the Bangladesh Krishak Samity on Friday (June 5), followed by a discussion meeting in the afternoon.
They further pointed out that although national textbooks identify Dinajpur as the leading litchi-producing region, Ishwardi currently has about 4,100 hectares of land under litchi cultivation, compared to around 2,000 hectares in Dinajpur. In light of this, they demanded that Ishwardi be recognised in national textbooks as the country’s principal litchi-producing region.
The speakers also emphasised that establishing a modern cold storage facility in Ishwardi has become essential for improving the preservation, marketing, and export of litchis. They noted that a formal proposal on the matter would be submitted to the government
The discussion meeting was chaired by Bangladesh Krishak Samity President Siddiqur Rahman Kul Moyez and moderated by General Secretary Abdul Jalil Kitab Mondal.
The chief guest was Md. Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir, MP, Minister for Commerce, Industries, Textiles, and Jute.
Special guests included Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul, MP, State Minister for Social Welfare, and Advocate Arifa Sultana Ruma, MP, representing the reserved women’s seat for Pabna-Sirajganj. The fair was inaugurated in the morning by Md. Habibur Rahman Habib, Convener of the Pabna District BNP.
Among those present were AKM Selim Reza Habib, MP of Pabna-2 constituency; agriculturist Hasan Zafir Tuhin, Chairman of the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA); Dr. A.N.M. Bazlur Rashid, Divisional Commissioner of Rajshahi; Mohammad Shahjahan, PPM (Bar), Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Rajshahi Range; Md. Aminul Islam, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Pabna; Md. Sufi Ullah, Superintendent of Police; agriculturist Mohammad Jahangir Alam Pramanik, Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension, Pabna; Hasan Md. Sowaib, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Ishwardi; and Md. Mokhlesur Rahman Bablus, former mayor of Ishwardi Municipality and a member of the BNP Central Committee, along with officials from various sectors.
During the discussion, Khairul Islam, adviser to the Bangladesh Krishak Samity, presented several key demands to the government for the development of agriculture and the litchi sector. These included reopening Ishwardi Airport, establishing a Litchi Research Institute and an Agricultural University, constructing a symbolic Litchi Monument, setting up a litchi processing industrial zone, and establishing a modern cold storage facility.
Farmer leaders emphasised that, despite numerous challenges, farmers continue agricultural production and ensure the country’s food security through hard work in all weather conditions. They also demanded increased financial assistance for families of farmers who lose their lives due to lightning strikes while working in the fields, and sought continued government support for farmers’ welfare and development.
