Litchi producing farmers and individuals in Jhenaidah became worried when the immature litchis are getting cracked due to severe draught. The farmers have been storing water around the plants to save the bearings. But the fruits are getting colour in advance.
The farmers will have no alternative to harvest the fruits in advance. Severe drought was mainly liable for the situation, said the officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Jhenaidah.
Visiting Kotchandpur and Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah, this correspondent witnessed that the immature litchis started cracking and falling off the trees one after another. Some of them started showing the colour of maturity in advance.
Litchi grower Salauhuddin of Kotchandpur said all of his four litchi plants offered huge bearings this season. He was expecting optimum production of the same in this year, but the cracking of the fruits have frustrated him.
Another farmer Abdur Rahman of Harinakundu expressing the same frustration said that farmers will incur heavy losses in the season when the unripe litchis were getting cracked.
Local DAE office sources said the farmers in Jhenaidah Sadar, Kaliganj, Kotchandpur, Moheshpur, Shailkupa and Harinakundu had produced 3,080 tones of litchi on a total of 428 hectors of land in the last season.
Deputy Director of Jhenaidah DAE Asgar Ali when contacted said the farmers had expanded the area of operation due to better yield and benefit from the same this season. They are expecting at least 3,500 tonnes from 440 hectors this season. Farming of litchi is highly profitable and has a great demand in the locality as the fruit vendors bring the fruits from Chapainawabganj, Iswardi in Pabna and Meherpur every year to meet the local demand.
If adequate litchi is produced in the district, it will meet the local demand and strengthen socio economy of the farmers. It will also reduce the import of seasonal fruits against foreign currency.
As there has been no rainfall for last couple of months, the fruits getting cracked and falling on the grounds continously.
The farmers should apply adequate water around the plants at a regular basis and spray water on the trees everyday to ensure greenery, the DAE official said.