Fruit bagging technology in litchi in the offing

RAJSHAHI: After remarkable success in guava and mango, fruit bagging technology is going to be promoted in another delicious and tasty fruit litchi here for the first time in the country, reports BSS. But, the farmers here are not habituated in using the modern technology as yet. Before motivating the growers a district level officer of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has started using it experimentally attaining success.
In his own orchard at Matia Beel area under Paba Upazila, Monzurul Haque, Additional Deputy Director of DAE, promotes the bagging technology in a 15- year tree. With this, yield has been enhanced to a greater extent. He also witnessed bigger size besides deep red colour.
Agriculturist Monjurul Haque told the journalists that he had purchased bag at Taka 3.5 per piece. He kept 25 to 30 litchis in each bag. They harvested 4,000 bulbs from the tree last year whereas this year's yield is more than 6,000.
No immature fruit drop was occurred from the tree by storm as a result of using fruit bagging technology that also prevents attacks and damages by rodents contributes a lot to boost yield. As the fruits were protected inside bag its size and colour was attractive. These litchis are hundred percent chemical free, asserted Monjurul Haque.
Detailing his personal experience and expertise he said before expansion among the farmers he used the technology by himself. Bagged litchis can be
preserved in tree 10 to 15 days more than conventional method which is helpful of getting extra market price.
Additional Director of DAE Abdul Hannan accompanied by his district and
upazila level colleagues visited the site last week saying Monjurul Haque attained success through using bagging technology in a single tree. DAE will replicate the success in the years ahead.
He said there are huge litchi orchards of different ages and varieties on some two lakh hectares in the region. Recent years, many more new orchards also developed.
If the bags were used substantially, use of harmful chemical insecticides and pesticides could be reduced to a greater extent.  Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station said bagged fruits had high recovery of marketable fruits over the non-bagged ones.
He says pre-harvest fruit bagging is a useful approach for plant protection and improved post-harvest fruit quality as bagging of litchi for lower insect and disease damage in fruits.
Litchi is one of the commercially important fruit crops in the region but the important cash crop is prone to attacks of insect pests and diseases in all stages of development.
In this field, the technology has created a high hope among the growers and traders towards removing the menace.
If the technology was used, there will be no spot on litchi in the bagged ones.
Besides, the fruit could be protected from all kinds of diseases and pests that will boost the volume of exportable litchi. Apart from this, as the market price of the bagged litchi is lucrative the growers can sell their produce in high price.

Fruit bagging technology in litchi in the offing

RAJSHAHI: After remarkable success in guava and mango, fruit bagging technology is going to be promoted in another delicious and tasty fruit litchi here for the first time in the country, reports BSS. But, the farmers here are not habituated in using the modern technology as yet. Before motivating the growers a district level officer of Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) has started using it experimentally attaining success. In his own orchard at Matia Beel area under Paba Upazila, Monzurul Haque, Additional Deputy Director of DAE, promotes the bagging technology in a 15- year tree. With this, yield has been enhanced to a greater extent. He also witnessed bigger size besides deep red colour. Agriculturist Monjurul Haque told the journalists that he had purchased bag at Taka 3.5 per piece. He kept 25 to 30 litchis in each bag. They harvested 4,000 bulbs from the tree last year whereas this years yield is more than 6,000. No immature fruit drop was occurred from the tree by storm as a result of using fruit bagging technology that also prevents attacks and damages by rodents contributes a lot to boost yield. As the fruits were protected inside bag its size and colour was attractive. These litchis are hundred percent chemical free, asserted Monjurul Haque. Detailing his personal experience and expertise he said before expansion among the farmers he used the technology by himself. Bagged litchis can be preserved in tree 10 to 15 days more than conventional method which is helpful of getting extra market price. Additional Director of DAE Abdul Hannan accompanied by his district and upazila level colleagues visited the site last week saying Monjurul Haque attained success through using bagging technology in a single tree. DAE will replicate the success in the years ahead. He said there are huge litchi orchards of different ages and varieties on some two lakh hectares in the region. Recent years, many more new orchards also developed. If the bags were used substantially, use of harmful chemical insecticides and pesticides could be reduced to a greater extent. Dr Alim Uddin, Principal Scientific Officer of Regional Fruit Research Station said bagged fruits had high recovery of marketable fruits over the non-bagged ones. He says pre-harvest fruit bagging is a useful approach for plant protection and improved post-harvest fruit quality as bagging of litchi for lower insect and disease damage in fruits. Litchi is one of the commercially important fruit crops in the region but the important cash crop is prone to attacks of insect pests and diseases in all stages of development. In this field, the technology has created a high hope among the growers and traders towards removing the menace. If the technology was used, there will be no spot on litchi in the bagged ones. Besides, the fruit could be protected from all kinds of diseases and pests that will boost the volume of exportable litchi. Apart from this, as the market price of the bagged litchi is lucrative the growers can sell their produce in high price.