Phulbani: Litchi farmers in Kandhamal district are a happy lot these days as they earn handsomely. Yet they are also disgruntled as they feel the lack of proper water facilities is preventing them from growing the fruit in greater numbers.
Litchi, a summer fruit, is in great demand, more so in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Keeping this in mind, some farmers ventured into litchi farming. The decision has helped them in becoming self-reliant.
Take the case of Rabindra Pradhan, a resident of Pajimahar of Raikia panchayat under Raikia block, who has been in litchi farming for 12 years now. He also grows mangoes.
Pradhan’s litchi trees are planted on a land area of two acres at Sarapudi, near his village. Litchi selling takes place in the months of May and June. “During these two months I sell more than two quintals of litchi and my income is something around Rs1.5 lakh. My wife Mitiri helps me in plucking, collecting and selling the fruit. Most of my customers are businessmen from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack,” informed Pradhan.
He stated that the rest of the produce he sells in the local market with the price varying between Rs 150 to Rs 160 a kilogram. Pradhan also earns Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 by selling mangoes.
Pradhan informed that he was inspired by the district horticulture department to start litchi farming. He had received Rs 11, 000 as assistance in the first three years.
“There are quite a few of us who are into litchi farming. We are doing good, but could have done better had the water supply been sufficient,” Pradhan said. “Sometimes we have to carry water from far off distances for our plants… but then that is insufficient,” he added.
Pradhan and his other fellow farmers pointed out that the lack of sufficient water affects the size of the litchi, which in turn prevent them from getting good prices. Also it prevents full capacity production.
“If the government takes some step to solve the perennial water problem here, our harvest and profits can grow manifold,” Rabindra and his fellow farmers observed.
Pradhan also pointed out that marketing of this seasonal fruit is yet to be streamlined in the district.