PHOTO: STAR

AHMED HUMAYUN KABIR TOPU

Litchi farmers in Pabna are expecting a bumper harvest and record-breaking profits this summer after years of heavy losses -- thanks to favourable weather conditions.

However, they remain cautious about potential damage from nor’wester storms.

​During a visit to Ishwardi -- Bangladesh’s largest litchi-producing hub -- a spectacular bloom was seen in most trees.

Sheikh Mehedi Hasan of Shahapur village estimated a harvest of 10,000-12,000 fruits from large trees, 7,000-8,000 from medium-sized trees, and 4,000-5,000 from smaller ones each.

Wholesale prices are currently set at Tk 1,200 per thousand fruits for local varieties and Tk 1,700-1,800 for hybrids such as Bombay and China‑3.

While the prices are slightly lower than last year’s, farmers and traders believe the sheer volume of the fruits will ensure record profits.

Sajahan Ali Badsha, a litchi grower in Pabna, said if 60-70 percent of the buds successfully mature into fruits, this year’s business may exceed Tk 700-800 crore, surpassing all previous records.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 4,620 hectares have been brought under litchi cultivation in Pabna this year, with over 3,000 hectares in Ishwardi alone.

Md Shah Alam, development section officer at DAE in Pabna, said last year’s yield was the lowest in a decade at 34,898 tonnes, compared to 46,790 in 2024.

“We usually see an average yield of 10 tonnes per hectare, but this year we are expecting at least 11 tonnes per hectare due to abundant blooms,” Alam said.

“We anticipate a total production exceeding 50,000 tonnes, provided there are no major damage from natural disasters.”