Online BD RUNNER
MAY 10:- Kishoreganj, May 10, 2025 (BSS): In a few days, the litchi-breaking festival will be held across the village. The fame of this litchi has spread across the country due to its juicy, sweet, beautiful smell and dark pink color. This time, the litchi harvest has also been abundant due to favorable weather. The Upazila Agriculture Department is expecting a turnover of Tk 10 crore by selling litchi. Litchi from this village is being exported to various districts of the country including Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong.
Mangalbaria is a small village located in the east-south of Pakundia municipality in Kishoreganj district. About two hundred years ago, a person from faraway China first brought a sapling and planted it in Mangalbaria village in Pakundia municipality in Kishoreganj upazila. Due to its high yield and small seeds that are juicy, this litchi became popular in the area. Within a few days, the seedlings of this variety of litchi spread to every house in the village. Due to its high yield and profitable price, the villagers quickly became interested in commercial production. Currently, litchi trees are adorning every house in the area. The litchi has been named ‘Mangalbaria litchi’ after this village.
Although many varieties of litchi are available in the local market, buyers are now looking for the litchi from Mangalbaria. Litchi-loving buyers from different parts of the country, including the capital Dhaka, flock to Mangalbaria village to taste this litchi.
It can be seen on the ground that litchi is sold at a high price while still on the tree. Currently, every hundred litchi is sold for 600 taka. Most of the litchi gardens in Mangalbaria are sold in advance. Some wholesalers buy plants in advance and sell litchi at an additional price. Farmers and wholesalers are all smiling as they know that they will get a good price this time too.
According to the Upazila Agriculture Office, the Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer regularly visits the litchi gardens and gives advice. Moreover, this year, a litchi association has been formed for the litchi farmers of this village. Workshops have also been held with the farmers on how to improve the yield.
Pakundia Upazila Agriculture Office said that about 200 families in Mangalbaria village are involved in litchi cultivation. In addition, this variety of litchi has spread to the surrounding villages of Kumarpu, Narandi and Hossaindi. This year, farmers will be able to sell litchi worth about 10 crore taka from the gardens.
Litchi farmer Safir Uddin said that his father was involved in litchi cultivation for a long time. Currently, he cultivates litchi himself. He has 50-60 litchi trees. He has benefited financially by cultivating litchi. He earns one to one and a half lakh taka from litchi every year. In addition, he has a bee farm and a business of producing litchi seedlings.
Workshops on litchi cultivation were held through the association with the help of the Agriculture Office. The farmers have benefited from this.
Pakundia Municipality Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer Maidul Haque said that this time a litchi association has been formed with litchi farmers of Mangalbaria village. Through this association, workshops on litchi cultivation have been held under the supervision of the Agriculture Office. In addition, three more deputy assistant agriculture officers have been given responsibility in this block this season so that the farmers benefit.
Pakundia Upazila Agriculture Officer Noor-e-Alam said that the soil of Mangalbaria is suitable for litchi cultivation. The litchi produced in this village is very delicious. Each litchi is pink in color. The skin is thick, full of juice, and the smell is also incomparable. About 200 families in Mangalbaria village are involved in litchi cultivation. In addition, litchi cultivation is now being carried out in the surrounding villages of Kumarpur, Narandi and Hossaindi. This year, farmers will be able to sell litchi worth about 10 crore taka from the gardens.
The Upazila Agriculture Department is providing all advice and technical assistance to the farmers in litchi production.
N/M
