The litchi orchards of Sonargaon upazila in Narayanganj have produced a bumper crop this year, and traders are counting the days to bigger profits. The wait is nearly over; now it is time to sell.

Because of its geography and particular varieties, Sonargaon's litchi ripens earlier than in other districts, which is why it is valued across the country. Orchard owners say three kinds of litchi are grown here: pati litchi, kadami litchi and China litchi.

According to the upazila agriculture office, litchi trees stand on 107 hectares this year, in 282 orchards.

A visit to the municipality area of the upazila found row upon row of litchi orchards, the trees covered in fruit and tended by workers. Owners say they are very happy with this year's crop.

Md Jahid Hasan (57), son of the late Abdur Razzak of Balua Dighirpar village in Sonargaon municipality, has run litchi orchards for many years. This year he has 100 litchi trees on 210 decimals of land in Panam Gabtali village.

Jahid Hasan said he had been running this orchard for 3 years under a lease agreement worth Tk 7.5 lakh. He made a good profit in the first year. In the second year, last year, he made a loss because of natural disasters and other reasons, but this year the yield is good again. Total costs for the whole orchard this year came to about Tk 4 lakh, and he hopes to sell the litchis for at least Tk 6 lakh to Tk 6.5 lakh.

He said 10–11 workers work in his orchard at a daily wage of Tk 1,000 each, for about 20 days a year during picking.

Asked whether he gets help or advice from the agriculture office, he said the office gives them neither help nor advice.

Two hundred and fifty yards from Md Jahid Hasan's orchard is the litchi orchard of Md Tajul Islam, who has been growing litchi for 40 years.

Tajul Islam said yields were poor for 3 years after the coronavirus pandemic, but this year both the yield and the market are very good. He has two orchards, looked after by 3 workers, and has spent Tk 2 lakh on them this year. He hopes to sell his litchis for Tk 4 lakh. He too complains that he gets no help or advice from the agriculture office.

Sonargaon upazila agriculture officer Abu Sayeed Tarek told Jago News that litchi had yielded a bumper crop this season, and without the drought the yield might have been even higher. There are 282 orchards in the upazila in all.

On the owners' complaint of no support, he said there is no allocation of assistance for litchi orchards as such, but the office would buy some spray machines that orchard owners will be able to use next year.

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