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Bumper yield of Mangalbaria litchi in Kishoreganj


Published : 13 May 2022 08:13 PM

Mangalbaria is a small village in Hosendi union of Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj district. There is no farmer's house in this village where there are not 4/5 litchi trees. By cultivating litchi, the farmers here have become financially prosperous. The village of Mangalbaria in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj, famous for its improved varieties of litchi, has seen bumper yields of litchi this season. On top of that, the price of 100 litchi is going up from 350 to 450 Tk. 

According to the farmers, each tree produces 10 to 12 thousand litchis and Litchi is sold in Mangalbaria village for around Tk. 10 crore in a single season. Satisfied smiles have been noticed on the faces of farmers as bumper yields have been achieved this time.

According to the locals, litchi has been cultivated in Mangalbaria village for two hundred years. Bright red color, large size and small beech as well as sweet taste - these are the characteristics of Mangalbaria litchi. Due to all these qualities, litchi here has already gained a reputation in the country. Mangalbaria litchi has started to ripen slowly ahead of the litchi-filled season. The courtyard of the house and the trees on both sides of the road are covered with red litchi.  The red-red ceremony all around fascinates any person.

Referring to the demand for litchi here from all over the country, Ashraf Mia, a trader who came to buy litchi from Mangalbaria, said, "I am a litchi trader. I buy litchi from here and sell it all over the country including Dhaka, Sylhet and Chattogram.  Litchi is in great demand all over the country.”

Describing the improved quality of litchi in Mangalbaria, local villager Humayun said, litchi has been cultivated in Mangalbaria village for two hundred years. Every house in our village has a litchi garden. The litchi here is big in shape and fun to eat. This litchi is supplied all over Bangladesh.

Mokhlesur Rahman Dada Bhai, a prominent litchi farmer from Mangalbaria village, said that he is financially self-sufficient by selling litchi. He said, "I have 30/32 litchi trees in my garden. I have become self-sufficient by selling this litchi. Seeing me, many people became inspired and became economically self-sufficient by cultivating litchi.”

Accurate information about the origin of Pakundia Mangalbaria litchi is not known. The species is thought to have originated in India. Locals say that a long time ago, a man named Hasim Munshi brought a litchi sapling from a hilly area and planted it in the yard of his house in Mangalbaria village. From there, another villager named Basir Uddin planted a pen in his backyard. This is how Mangalbaria litchi spread. Interestingly, apart from Mangalbaria, there are thousands of litchi trees in almost all the unions of Pakundia.  Hossendi Union is the most.  Wherever there is litchi in Pakundia upazila, its name must be Mangalbaria litchi. With the provision of necessary Government and private assistance, on the one hand, it is possible to further expand the cultivation of litchi produced here.