Lychee trees have begun to blossom in Dinajpur, known as the kingdom of lychees and famous nationwide for the fruit. With the weather favourable, there are prospects of a bumper crop this year.

Lychees are now grown to some extent across the country, but Dinajpur's lychees are especially prized. Many people call the juicy fruit nature's rosogolla.

Growers say Dinajpur lychees are supplied every year to districts and upazilas around the country. Because it is profitable, lychee cultivation in the district grows every year. If the weather stays favourable and there is no natural disaster, they hope for a record yield again this year.

According to the DAE in Dinajpur, lychees were grown on 4,180 hectares in the district last time. This year's target is still being set.

However, Abdul Alim, chief scientific officer of the Fruit Research Centre in Dinajpur, said lychees were grown on 5,680 hectares in the district last year, with production exceeding 25,000 tonnes. The target is being revised this year. Because Dinajpur lychees are tasty and sweet, they went beyond the country's borders and were exported last year. Trees have already started to blossom this year, and the yield is expected to be better than in previous years.

Agriculture officials are advising growers regularly on which insecticides and pesticides to use and when. Notable Dinajpur varieties include China Three, Bedana, Bombai, Madraji, Golapi and Kathali, and growers expect a bumper crop of all of them this year thanks to the weather.

Across the district, lychee trees in homesteads and courtyards are coming into blossom, and the air hums with bees among the flowers and the chirping of crickets.

For three to four months, from flowering to harvest, those involved in lychee orchards are busy. Trees must be irrigated 15 days before and 15 days after flowering, and as soon as the blossom appears growers are spraying to protect it.

Lychees are grown mainly in Sadar, Biral, Bochaganj, Kaharol, Chirirbandar, Birganj and Khansama upazilas.

Nazrul Islam, a lychee grower of Masipur, said the trees need care before they flower, and regular spraying and irrigation have begun. As soon as the trees flowered, traders from Dhaka, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Chattogram and elsewhere began arriving, visiting orchard after orchard for information, and many are buying orchards in advance.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.