Ishwardi upazila of Pabna is known as the kingdom of litchis, and its roads and paths now carry the scent of blossom. Orchard trees are covered in clusters of blossom, and the golden flowers sway in the spring breeze. Farmers and agriculture officials are hopeful of a bumper litchi harvest.

According to the upazila agriculture office, the juicy, tasty litchi is grown on 3,100 acres in the upazila, which has 11,270 litchi orchards. Last year the seasonal litchis produced in the area had a market value of about Tk 600 crore. With plenty of blossom on the trees this year, farmers hope the market value could break all previous records.

Farmers say litchi blossom usually appears from the last week of Magh to the middle of Falgun. Two varieties are grown most widely in the upazila: Mozaffar, or local (deshi), and Bombai, or China-3. Kadmi, Kanthali, Bedana, China-1 and China-2 are also grown on a small scale.

In Joynagar, Mirkamari, Maniknagar, Shahapur, Jagannathpur, Bharoimari and Aotapara, 80 to 85 per cent of trees were seen to have blossomed, each full of flowers, with their fragrance spreading all around. Farmers are busy watering trees, spraying pesticide and tending orchards to prevent blossom drop.

Abdul Mazid, a litchi farmer in Shahapur village, said: "I have 135 litchi trees in my orchard. Apart from 7 or 8, every tree has plenty of blossom. I am tending the orchard regularly so the blossom does not drop, watering each tree as needed and spraying pesticide. Judging by the blossom, I hope the yield will be good."

Rafiqul Islam Faruki, a farmer in Maniknagar village, said: "There is a lot of litchi blossom this season. If blossom or young fruit does not drop because of natural disasters, the yield will be very good. Farmers lost money last year because the yield was poor. Seeing the blossom this year, it looks as if farmers will profit."

Abul Hashem, a litchi farmer in Mirkamari village, said: "Litchi is the main cash crop for people in this upazila. If the litchi yield is poor, it has a huge effect on the area's socio-economic condition. Many suffered heavy losses last year because of the low yield, and many were heard talking of cutting down their orchards. Inshallah, the yield is good this year and farmers are expected to profit."

Ishwardi upazila agriculture officer Abdul Momin told Jagonews: "Litchi has been cultivated on 3,100 hectares in the upazila this year. Blossom has come on the trees in the orchards and I hope the yield will be good. We are giving farmers various advice on preventing blossom drop."

The same report thus gives the litchi area both as 3,100 acres, citing the upazila agriculture office, and as 3,100 hectares, in the upazila agriculture officer's own words.

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