Photo: Messenger
Bijayanagar Upazila in Brahmanbaria, known for its juicy litchis, has once again brought joy to the local farmers with a good yield of the fruit this season. However, the intense heat has led to a noticeable reduction in the size of the litchi, according to garden owners.
Despite the smaller size, the agriculture officer reported that a substantial 430 hectares of litchi have been planted in the upazila this year, with over 900 litchi gardens contributing to the harvest. The favorable weather conditions have set a sales target of Tk 20 crore for the litchi produce.
Vijaynagar upazila, bordering India, is renowned for its diverse agricultural output, with litchi being a particular favorite across Bangladesh. The cultivation of litchi began in the area about 50 years ago, and due to limited space and labor, local farmers found success in the litchi business.
The Agriculture Extension Department of Vijaynagar Upazila has identified several areas with litchi plantations, including Bishnupur, Kanchanpur, Kashimpur, Singarbil, Adampur, Kalachra, Merashani, Sejamura, Kamalmura, Harshpur, Mukundpur, Noagaon, Alipur, Kashinagar, Chaturpur, Bakhtarmura, Rupa, Shantamura, Kamalpur, Kachuamura, Goalnagar, Vitidaupur, Pattan, and others. Almost every household in the upazila has at least one litchi tree, with residents utilizing even small spaces for cultivation.
The Auliya market is the largest in the upazila for litchi sales, with other significant markets including Singarbil, Harshpur, and Champaknagar. Traders from various districts such as Brahmanbaria, Comilla, Narsingdi, Bhairab, Noakhali, Chandpur, Moulvibazar, Sylhet, Habiganj, Shaistaganj, Kishoreganj, Srimangal, Feni, and the capital Dhaka frequent these markets to purchase litchi at competitive prices.
Visitors to the upazila can witness the bustling activity in the gardens of Kachuamura, Vitidaudpur, Sejamura, and Kamalmura of Paharpur Union, where garden owners are actively tending to their trees.
Sergeant Md. Iqbal Hussain Titu, a resident of Kachuamura village and a member of the Bangladesh Army, shared that he has 43 litchi trees in his two gardens. Due to the drought and lack of rain, the size of his litchi is smaller this year. He expects to sell litchi worth Tk 3 lakh and has taken leave from his office to care for his garden during the litchi season.
Asad Bhuiyan, a garden owner from Sejamura village, expressed optimism about selling 10 lakhs worth of litchi this year, despite the heat affecting the fruit's size. Both Titu and Asad mentioned that they have not received any advice or assistance from the agriculture office, a sentiment echoed by other garden owners.
The agriculture officer acknowledged the manpower shortage, stating that the upazila requires 30 officers, but currently has only 18, which limits their ability to supervise all the gardens effectively.
As the litchi season progresses, the farmers of Bijayanagar Upazila hope for continued success in their harvests, despite the challenges posed by the weather and the need for greater support from agricultural authorities.
Messenger/Disha
