Pinky Akther, Rangamati

In this country of six seasons, various nutritious seasonal fruits are available in different seasons. which are very important in meeting the nutritional needs of the human body. One such juicy fruit is litchi. It contains a lot of minerals and vitamins. Lychee plays a significant role in meeting the daily nutritional requirements. So it is very beneficial for us to eat seasonal fruits as much as possible.

Looks vermilion red. White inside. Juicy and sweets. As attractive as it is to look, it is also delicious to eat. A bumper yield of such litchi has taken place in the hilly areas. Ripe and unripe litchis are now seen all over litchi gardens in the hill districts of Rangamati Hills. In the meantime, it has also come to the market. Buyers are also in great demand. So the price is quite high. Farmers say that beyond the local market, this litchi is being exported to different districts of the country.

Bangladesh has to face various effects of global climate change. The temperature is rising during the monsoon season. Monsoon comes late, goes late. The rate of heat wave in the country is increasing day by day. Which is affecting the production of seasonal fruits. Most of the litchi pods have fallen in Rangamati due to the continuous heat wave this season. Farmers fear that the production will be less than other years.

The garden owners say that the buds have already come less than in other years. As much as Lychee bud are visible at the beginning of the season, they have fallen again in the heat wave. Spraying and irrigation of the trees is not getting any benefit.

Ranjit Tanchangyar, the owner of the litchi garden, said that every year there is a good yield of litchi in the hills. This year has also been good, but due to prolonged absence of rain and lack of water, several litchis have perished. Litchi yield would have been better if it had rained at the right time.

According to the information of Rangamati Agricultural Extension Directorate, this year the amount of litchi cultivation land in hilly district Rangamati is 1 thousand 899 hectares. The production target from each hectare of land has been set at 11 metric tons. The agriculture department expects to produce 17 thousand metric tons of litchi in the district.

Litchi is being sold at the price of Tk 70 to Tk 250 depending on the quality in Rangamati market. On the other hand, beyond the local market, this litchi is going to different districts of the country including Dhaka-Chittagong. The cultivation of China-2, China-3, Bombay and Rajshahi varieties of litchi has increased in the hills, along with desi litchi.

Banasa Begum Pari, a customer who came to buy litchi from Rangamati's Banrupa market, said that the litchi produced in the hills is very sweet. Apart from this there are no insects. Although the price is a little high, I am buying litchi.

According to the relevant sources, litchi has been cultivated in different hilly areas of the district including Balukhali, Jeebtali, Mogban, Gungabhanga, Sapchari, Kutukchari, Wagga, Baradam, Raikhali in Kaptai.

One of the biggest benefits of litchi is that it helps prevent cancer. Vitamin-C and antioxidants present in litchi help our body to prevent cancer.