Shahin Fakir:
A new example of success has emerged in Tarabunia village of Shankharikathi Union in Nazirpur Upazila of Pirojpur. Litchi farmer Himanshu Kumar Mistry of the area has become known as the ‘Litchi Emperor’ in the area due to his enviable success in litchi cultivation for several years. This year, due to favorable weather conditions, his garden has yielded a bumper harvest of litchi.
Himanshu was inspired by the demonstration of advanced agricultural methods in the program ‘Hridoye Mati O Manush’ broadcast on BTV in 2006. After that, he started his litchi garden by collecting seedlings of improved varieties from Dinajpur. Currently, Muzaffari and Bombay varieties of litchi are being cultivated commercially on about 75 percent of his 4 bighas of land. Himanshu Mistry Shankar said, “The market condition is much better this year than in previous years. I am selling 3600 to 3800 taka per thousand litchis. I hope to make a good profit this year.”
Sanjeev Kumar Roy, a visitor to the garden, said that the taste of litchis in the garden is very good. They mentioned that not only are the buyers satisfied by buying litchis from the garden, but the garden owner is also benefiting. Himanshu’s garden is always crowded with buyers.
Nazirpur Upazila Agriculture Officer, Agriculturist Ishratunnesa Esha said that the fruit farmers of Nazirpur are now the model of the district. The Agriculture Department has been providing technical advice along with regular training to the farmers, necessary spray machines and drift irrigation arrangements. There are plans to expand this assistance further through the Horticulture Center in the future.
A wholesale litchi buyer from Chitalmari Upazila of Bagerhat district said, “I have not had litchi from here for two years. If I buy litchi from here and sell it, I can sell more because the buyers enjoy the fresh litchi here, which is why my shop is crowded and the sales are better than everyone else’s.”
Every house in Shankharikathi Union now has a small or large litchi garden. Currently, there are 70 small, large and medium litchi gardens in this union. Farmers are successful in cultivating litchi along with mango, plum and malta by following the mixed fruit cultivation method. Due to the huge demand from wholesale buyers, litchi farmers in the district are expecting to make a record profit this year, which has breathed new life into the local economy.
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