AHMED HUMAYUN KABIR TOPU

In just two hours, 2000 litchis were sold. Fruit trader Md Nasir felt like he struck gold after selling his entire stock at the Indara Mor of Pabna town on Thursday afternoon.

Another trader, Jasim Uddin, sold 4,000 litchis by that evening at the same roadside market.

​“Litchis have just hit the Pabna market for the first time this season, so there is high demand from customers keenly waiting for a taste of the season’s first fruit. Since traders brought only small quantities, all sold out within a hours,” said Jasim.

​The local litchis of “Mozaffar” variety, retailing for Tk 300 per hundred at the market, however, are mostly quite sour, and have very little flesh, being harvested rather prematurely.

​“As it’s the first fruit of the season, I bought 50 litchis, but they are very expensive compared to the quality and taste,” said Md Shahidur Rahman, a college teacher.

​Traders, however, noted that prices are already lower than last year and are expected to become even more affordable with a bumper harvest.

​“Last year, we bought early varieties from farmers for over Tk 300 per hundred. This year, we are getting them for Tk 250,” said Md Nasir Uddin, a seasonal trader. He explained that the local variety (Mozaffar/Ati litchi) is harvested early in Ishwardi and adjoining areas, making it the first to hit the market.

​Nasir added that the harvest will begin in full swing next week, bringing the price down further.

​Traders said the superior Hybrid and Bombay varieties are expected to retail for around Tk 400 per hundred once the peak harvest begins.

​Local growers suffered heavy losses over the last few years. This year, however, they are expecting a record-breaking yield, thanks to favourable weather.

​“This year, we saw maximum blooming and minimum damage from nor’westers so far,” said Mehedi Hasan of Shahapur village. He noted that while each tree usually yields 5,000-6,000 litchis, he expects 8,000-10,000 per tree this year.

​Md Rakibul Islam of Silimpur village said while the harvest of local variety begins next week, the Bombay and Hybrid varieties will be collected after Eid-ul-Azha.

​​According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Pabna, litchi has been cultivated across 4,620 hectares this year, with over 3,000 hectares in Ishwardi alone.

Md Shah Alam, a DAE official in Pabna, said 2025 saw the lowest litchi production in a decade at 34,898 tonnes.

“We expect at least 11 tonnes per hectare yield due to healthy blooms this year, with total production exceeding 50,000 tonnes, provided there are no major natural disasters,” Shah Alam said.

​Shajahan Ali Badsha, a litchi grower in Pabna, said the fruit is the region’s primary economic driver.

​“Approximately Tk 500 crore worth of litchis are sold over two months in Pabna. This year, the business may exceed Tk 700-800 crore,” Badsha added.