Mango, lichi to be plentiful!
Farmers and agriculture officials said this is an on-year for the sweet seasonal fruits and they are expecting bumper production if the gardens are not affected by nor'wester.
Raising of mango and lichi gardens increased in the area in the last few years following farmers' training and motivation by the Agriculture Extension Department (AED) under its North-West Crop Diversification Project.
This can open up great prospects for farmers and earn good amounts of foreign exchange for the country if commercial cultivation can be increased, AED officials told this correspondent.
This year, though slightly delayed, the budding was profuse in most of the mango and lichi trees in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh. Mango buds were not affected as the winter and fog were normal.
Nur Hossain, owns a 20-bigha mango garden in the Sadar upazila. "All the trees are now full of small green mangoes and there will be a very good harvest if these are not affected by nor'wester", he told this correspondent with a delighted mood. The weather is favourable this year, he said.
The climate of Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgoan are suitable for cultivation of good quality mango and lichi, he added.
AED sources said there about 3,300 hectares of mango gardens in Dinajpur and the prospect is bright in most of the gardens this year.
Akbar Hossain of Birol village in Dinajpur Sadar said raising a mango garden in high lands is more profitable than other crops.
Good quality mangoes like Lengra, Gopalbhog, Fazli, Ranipachand are grown in these gardens, which bring money four to five times than from crops like wheat, jute, sugarcane and vegetables.
Commercial litchi farming, especially that of Bedana variety, is increasing in Dinajpur as more and more farmers are switching over to this seasonal fruit from other traditional crops.
The soil and climate of the area are very suitable for mango and lichi, agriculturists and farmers said. Moreover their high prices attract farmers.
The Deputy Director of Dinajpur AED said Banglaadeshi lichi has good market in the Middle East. A small quantity was exported to Dubai last year by two NGOs BRAC and Proshika. The export may will be higher this year, he said.
Dinajpur Sadar, Biral, Kaharol and Khanshama upazilas are now known for litchi cultivation, which has now increased to 882 hectares from 543 hectares three years ago, they said.
Of the total gardens, 500 hectares are in Biral and 120 in the Sadar upazila. Small gardens are there also in Birganj, Bochaganj, Khanshama, Kaharol, Phulbari, Parbatipur, Chirirbandar, Nawabganj, Hakimpur, Birampur and Ghoraghat.
Sources in AED's Horticulture Department said about 68 per cent litchi gardens in Dinajpur are of Bombai variety, 30 per cent Madraji variety and the rest are of Bedana variety.
Farmers in the area earlier cultivated sugarcane on high lands. Lichi farming increased due to motivation by the DAE. A garden lasts for at least 50 year and the production cost is also negligible, farmers said.
Sugarcane on one acre earns a farmer Tk 15,000 a year at best while lichi can earn up to Tk two lakh, they said.
About 2,400 farmers have so far been trained in lichi farming since the North-West Crop Diversification Project was launched in the area, AED officials said.
Horticulturist Khairul Islam of DAE in Dinajpur said training on lichi farming and campaign has opened up a new horizon for farmers in Dinajpur
Some litchi garden owners in Masimpur village in the Sadar upazila said there is no major risk except rainfall during the pick harvesting period.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. But there is a problem. At times, bulk quantities are damaged due to lack of storage facility, they said.
The DAE officials said they submitted a proposal for setting up a specialised cold storage in the area, but nothing has been done so far.
Planned litchi farming can bring affluence for farmers in greater Dinajpur and also earn foreign exchange for the country, they said.
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