Farmers in the villagers are well off now. Most households have lichee gardens, big or small, and so all are busy.

The story was not the same about 13 years ago when poverty stalked the villages as lands were not suitable for traditional crops like rice and jute.

Lichee cultivation has changed their fate, thanks to the cooperation of Agriculture Extension Department (AED) officials.

This year lichees are being harvested from about 1500 orchards, AED officials told this correspondent during a visit yesterday.

Ichhakhada, Hazrapur, Pucca- Kanchanpur, Mithapur,Utholi, Khalimpur, Nandalalpur, Hazipur, Narihati and Jodhpara villages draw traders from Dhaka, Faridpur, Barisal, Manikganj, Satkhira, Madaripur and even from Chittagong.

Harvest started in mid-April and will continue for about a month more, said Abdul Khaleque who owns two gardens.

"A farmer can earn Tk 65,000 to Tk 75,000 from a one bigha garden. Paddy or jute usually brought Tk 5,000 to 6,000 earlier", Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer in Sadar upazila Abdur Rashid said.

Three days back, Divisional AED officials from Khulna visited the lichee-growing areas in Magura.

Agriculture and horticulture officials of seven south-western districts during a visit on Friday told gathering of several hundred farmers that farmers of other areas of the country could also try to follow the example of Magura in lichee cultivation.

An inspired Sakhawat Hossain and 13 others in Ichhakhada village planed lichee plants on about 15 bighas of land.

"In 1998, I earned about T 60,000 while my total cost was only Tk 1,000", said farmer Monirul.

"In 2001, I earned about Tk one lakh. Others in the village also earned good amounts. It was beyond out imagination", said Sakhawat.

AED official Abdur Rashid said farmers are now showing interest in lichee cultivation as it needs small investment but the return is big.