Ballia, May 17 (Hindustan Times). Litchi and Muzaffarpur of Bihar are synonymous with each other. But to break this myth, a retired police officer from Niruppur in the district has started gardening in his village. Shahi Litchi produced in his garden is now going to Mumbai, Delhi and Nashik.
Even today both brothers eat in the same plate
Rajashankar Tiwari of Niruppur retired in 2013 as Assistant Commandant of RPF. There are two brothers but both the brothers had no children, so adopted a child who is now 21 years old. Both the brothers still eat from the same plate. Usually, people move to cities after retirement after holding a high position, but Rajashankar Tiwari made the village his home.
Even before retirement, Rajashankar Tiwari had planned horticulture in the village. After the consolidation of 2002, Chak grew, so in October 2005, 275 trees of Shahi Litchi were planted in four bighas in Dopahi Mauje of the village. Along with this, two hundred mango trees were planted in five bighas. The laborers around the village were given the responsibility of taking care of the horticulture. When he retired in 2013, he completely made the village his abode. After retirement, he went to Muzaffarpur and learned the tricks of litchi gardening at the Litchi Research Center.
Bihar businessman took litchi garden on contract
He has built a guesthouse in his litchi and mango orchard. Where they live and take care. At present, 232 litchi trees are ready in his garden. While two hundred mango trees are also fully prepared. More than 211 litchi trees started bearing fruits. Till last year, litchi and mango prepared in such a big garden were sold only in the local market. Due to which the profit was less. However, this time also only eight tonnes of litchis have been produced due to less blowing of the east wind, but the marketing tips have brought their royal litchi to the center of discussion. This is the reason why a businessman from Muzaffarpur in Bihar has taken his litchi orchard on contract. Last week, each consignment of Litchi packed in cartons made in Chennai has been sent to Mumbai and Delhi. A consignment of Litchi is being sent by train to Nashik in Maharashtra on Wednesday.
Ballia’s Litchi will be as famous as Sattu
Mango crop is also good this time in Rajashankar Tiwari’s garden. Mangoes of Langda, Dussehri and Chausa breeds will be ready after ripening in the month of June. Rajashankar Tiwari is trying that litchi prepared in Ballia will be as famous as the sattu here.
Preparing to send Ballia’s Litchi to Dubai
Retired police officer Rajashankar Tiwari has worked hard to create litchi orchards, breaking the tradition, but is also a little worried about the apathy at the administration and political level. He said that there are more talks here, less work on the ground. This disappoints us. Said that right now I do not have a license to export. District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar has encouraged for export. Talked to litchi traders in Dubai. If the license is given soon, the Litchi of Ballia will go out of the country. This will also increase competition in the local market. He said that litchi is being fetched at one-fourth price in the country, while at present there is a good rate in the Dubai market.
Attracted to gardening while on the job
Rajashankar Tiwari, 72, mostly stayed at the RPF headquarters. Where the mind started enjoying gardening. He told that I had read somewhere that a tree gives an output of ninety lakhs in its entire life. Since then my inclination towards trees increased. In childhood, we used to play on the branches of trees. Due to which there was attachment to trees. Today there are few trees. The children have fallen away from the trees. The growing population has a tendency to exploit nature.
