A silent revolution is taking place in litchi farming in Jhenaidah as hundreds of farmers in the district are now becoming self-reliant through farming of the juicy fruit.
However, areas of litchi farming are expanding every year as the farmers in Jhenaidah have been receiving better prices for the plenty amount of the fruit.
Excellent growth of litchi in orchards amid favorable climatic condition predicts bumper production of the fruit this season. So the farmers are now spending busy time in nursing the litchi trees in the orchards.
Meanwhile, the litchi farming has also been helping increase the honey production in the district. Some farmers of the district and officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said that honey production in the district is increasing following expansion of litchi farming there. Honey bees are found on litchi blossoms in the district.
Some farmers at Solemanpur village of Kotchandpur upazila said that about four bighas of additional land in the village were brought under litchi farming when the farmers have been leaning towards the profitable farming.
They said a farmer can get Taka 20 to 25 thousand from one bigha of land from other fruits, while the litchi farmers can get taka 40 thousand from the same. Turmeric, ginger, amaranth, chili, egg plant and some other crops might be cultivated after the season of litchi, they said.
