Abhinav Akarsh performs at Litchipuram Utsav 2011 at Mehsi on Wednesday. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Mehsi (East Champaran), June 8: Development of litchi in the region received a further boost on the second and third day of Litchipuram Utsav, 2011.

State JD(U) president Vashishtha Narayan Singh and animal husbandry minister Giriraj Singh inaugurated the second and the third day of the seminar respectively, while sugarcane industries and minor irrigation minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha was the chief guest on the occasion.

Specialists and agro-scientists from Rajendra Agriculture University, Pusa and National Horticulture Mission, Muzaffarpur branch, who participated in the seminar, encouraged farmers for a scientific and methodical cultivation for getting maximum output against their dedicated efforts.

Singer and an All India Radio presenter in Bhoj- puri Braj Kishore Dubey, cultural artists from Muzaffarpur, budding singer Abhinav Akarsh and singer from Banaras Saroj Verma were among the cultural artistes who performed in various events on these two days of the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, scientists from National Horticulture Mission, gave important information to the farmers on various aspects of litchi farming, its preservation and its marketing. They said all this could help the farmers increase their revenue.

Horticulture scientist Rajesh Kumar lauded the endeavours of the litchi growers of Mehsi region for a record production of the seasonal fruit without any assistance from the government.

He suggested litchi growers from the region as well as those from the district who attended the programme to go ahead with offshoots management of trees in order to procure the maximum yield of the crop.

“The farmers would benefit from the real quality of litchi only when the yield is properly marketed,” he said.

“Research work is on to try and find out ways in which the fruits colour can be preserved, because the quality of the fruit is judged only by its colour,” he added.

Kumar also spoke about valuable ingredients of the seasonal fruit, proper management of the litchi orchard, environmental conditions and quantity of the essential manures and minerals essential for encouraging the yield of the fruit every year.

The experts from the industries department, who participated in the seminar on honey, briefed farmers on the scientific method of a better production of the commodity, its purification, preservation and successful marketing so that they can get maximum value of their product.

On the occasion, entrepreneurs engaged in the trade for decades exchanged their views and suggested measures for a better prospect in the shell cottage industry, if the government comes forward and promotes self-employment in the sector.

Several entrepreneurs stressed that if proper focus is given in this sector, it has the potential to draw global attention in the days to come.