Juicy summer fruit Litchi has produced in enormous in Pabna district due to favorable climatic condition here. In the beginning of Ramadan the local variety was available in the market. But the quantity of improved variety of litchis has started arriving in the markets and the quantity has surpassed all the past records this time.
But the producers and traders of litchis is facing hard time with this easy perishable goods. On one hand they are not getting desired price, on the other hand the embargo on running goods transports in the highways during Eid festival for six days to ensure safe journey for the holiday makers has hit them. To make the journey of the people safe the authorities has banned the movement of trucks, lorries and covered vans on highways before three days of Eid and three days after Eid.
According to Agriculture Extension sources, during last few decades in greater Pabna district particularly in Pabna Sadar, Iswardi and Chatmohor a large number of litchi orchards have grown up on commercial basis. This litchi is widely popular countrywide. For its quality and taste the litchis of Pabna has a demand in the market.
Deputy Director Krishibid Azahar Ali informed that though this juicy fruit was cultivated on 4099 hectares last year, this year more 200 hectares were added. The production this time is about 50 thousand metric tons @ of 12 metric tons per hectare. So the produces is fetching Taka 700 crore this year.
During last few years as the fruit brings good profit that tended the farmers to increase the cultivation in more orchards and production. The DD of Agriculture claimed that if this trend and favorable climate continues then in future time the produce would fetch one Taka one thousand crore.
In Teen gacha orchard while talking to some traders of Sylhet, Chattogram and from the capital Dhaka who informed that they have been trading litchis for the last ten years. They also send litchis to different districts.
Badal from Chattogram told that I have been with litchi trade for a long time. This time there was a bumper production of litchis in this district.
The orchard owner and the farmers informed that in retail market per hundred litchis is being sold at Taka 200 while the wholesalers are purchasing it per thousand @ Taka 1200 to Taka 1500.
But the litchi traders and the farmers are in very much mental agony due to the ban imposed on movement of goods laden truck in the highways. Litchi is perishable food goods so there should not be any embargo to carry it, as claimed by the concerned people. They demanded some alternative arrangement to save them from so huge impending losses along with ensuring safe journey for the Eid goers.
Litchi trader Uzzal Hossain of Ruppur said that this time I have taken loans from bank and NGos for purchasing 300 litchi trees of three orchards. Though the production was good but the loan money is yet to be recovered. The fruit has started ripening. I have started harvesting. But if there is embargo on truck movement for six days then I will simultaneously lose capital and will be a definite loan defaulter.
Under such prevailing situation of mental agony the farmers like Abu Taleb, Zahed Ali, Bacchu Molla and all other orchard owners, farmers and retailers demand special permission of the government to carry this perishable food goods.
DC in charge of Pabna, Shafiul Islam told that the district administration has taken up the problems of the litchi traders and others with much importance. The administration has informed the matter to the Commerce Ministry. This top official of the district administration expects some positive decisions soon.