PABNA, June 9: Despite less yielding, litchi growers in the district are happy to get profitable prices of their produce.
Primarily they became frustrated as their gardens were hit by excessive raining at the budding stage and heat stress at the bud-growing time.
According to garden sources, the size of litchis has been smaller.
This season the number of trees has decreased to 3-7 thousands from last year's 5-10 thousands.
At present Mozaffar variety is selling at Tk 15,000 to 22,000-25,000 per aati (1,000 pieces) against Tk 1,000 to 15,000 two weeks back.
Bombay variety started sale earlier this week. Per aati is selling at Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000.
A visit found ripe and half-ripe litchis hanging from trees at Ishwardi, known as capital of litchi. Lifting, sorting, and packing are going on in full swing. Also local haats and bazaars are full of litchis.
Litchis of Pabna are favourite in other parts of the country. From Ishwardi litchis are sent to different districts. The farming of litchi has increased in Pabna with rising demand.
Though litchis have been cultivated in other districts including Dinajpur, the litchi marketing at Ishwardi and in Pabna started a little earlier.
The sale started from mid-May. Muzaffar variety was marketed firstly, followed by Bombay.
According to sources at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE)-Pabna, this season litchi was cultivated on 4 thousand 721 hectares (ha) of land in the district with a production target of over 8 metric tons (mt) per ha. The total production target has been fixed at 40,000 mt.
Of the total, more than 3 thousand ha was brought under litchi farming at Ishwardi, with the production target of 30 thousand mt. A sale of over Tk 700 crore is likely.
Abdul Jabbar, a grower of Aotapara area of Ishwardi, said, 'Despite yield-cut, the price is very good. We are happy. I am bringing 4-5 thousand litchis to market every day. Growers will gain if this trend continues."
The garden price is higher than in the market as traders directly buy litchis from garden owners, he added.
Rabiul Islam, grower of Dapunia Village of Pabna Sadar Upazila said, the highest temperature was recorded in Pabna causing bud-dropping. Also due to a lack of proper guidance from the DAE, litchis have been wasted a lot. "But we are happy for fair prices," he added.
DAE's Deputy Director Dr Md Jamal Uddin said, 'I constantly advised growers about fertiliser management, and pest control through field level agriculture officers."
