Sonargaon in Narayanganj, the ancient capital of Bengal, is famous for its litchis. The climate here suits litchis better than anywhere else in the country, so Sonargaon's litchis are prized across Bangladesh.

Because of the extra heat this year, most of the litchis have ripened early, and many orchard owners are already preparing to sell them. But with very little rain, the fruit has not grown large, and growers fear they will not get a good price at market.

A visit to various litchi orchards in Sonargaon on the afternoon of 4 May found mostly Kadami, China-3, Mozaffarpuri, Elachi and Pati varieties. In these final days growers were busy in their orchards, guarding them, while many were gathering baskets, bamboo, rope and other equipment to sell litchis at market. Wholesalers were also visiting the orchards.

According to the Sonargaon upazila agriculture office, there are more than 300 litchi orchards in Sonargaon municipality, Baidyer Bazar, Mogharapara, Baradi and Sonmandi, and in Khasnagar of Sadipur union, Chilarbag, Doilorbag, Panam, Noail, Duttapara, Bagmuchha, Arjundi, Hatkopa, Dorpat, Chhaperbondho, Goaldi, Tiprodi, Harishpur, Bhattapur, Lokshilpa Jadughar, Gobindapur, Gaptoli, Haria, Baradi, Senpara and Balua Dighirpar.

Taijul Islam, a young man, has grown litchis in Sonargaon all his life. He and his five brothers own six litchi orchards in Sonargaon, and he has his own orchard of 65 trees on two bighas at Mannarbag Gaptoli village.

Taijul said that because of the heat the litchis ripened early but did not grow very large. If there is heavy rain in the next day or two, they will grow bigger; otherwise they will have to be sold at this size. Every year his orchard's litchis are the first to reach the market, he said, and although they are small this time, he hopes to get a better price than in the past two years.

Another orchard owner, Syed Ali, said he had hoped to make more profit from litchis this year than in the past few years, but because the fruit is small he is worried about the price. Everything from fertiliser up is expensive, so if they don't get a good price they will have to look for alternatives, he said.

A wholesaler who came from Shyambazar to buy litchis in Sonargaon said he always buys here. He had not yet bought from any orchard this time and was going round different orchards to buy wherever the litchis looked best.

Sonargaon upazila agricultural extension officer Afroza Sultana told Jago News that the yield is better than last time, but because there has been little rain the litchis have not grown very large. Still, she is hopeful that growers will profit from selling them at market. Orchard owners and seasonal traders hope the same, she said.

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