Litchi prices higher as yields dip

Litchi farmers across Bangladesh are registering poor yields this year due to adverse weather, meaning that consumers will have to pay more for the fruit in face of short supply.

"Overall production is not good in terms of quantity, size, colour and taste," said Jahrul Islam Jewel, a litchi trader at the Kalitola fruit market in Dinajpur sadar upazila.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Dinajpur, litchi produced in the district is the preferred choice among consumers as they bear a unique taste for being grown in perfect soil and climate conditions.

However, temperature fluctuations during the flowering period in February coupled with high heat and lack of rain during the budding season in March have severely impacted production.

Temperature fluctuations during the flowering period in February coupled with high heat and lack of rain during the budding season in March have severely impacted production

Litchi is being grown on around 26,000 hectares across the country this year with an average of about 2 lakh tonnes of the fruit produced each year.

Dinajpur alone contributes some 5,500 hectares with roughly 4,000 commercial orchards in the district.

Officials of the Dinajpur DAE expect production of around 40,000 tonnes this year while the region yielded more than 45,000 tonnes in 2022.

A 100-piece bunch of the Madrazi variety is currently selling for as much as Tk 320, up by about Tk 30 from last year.

Similarly, the same amount of Bedana litchis is now being sold for up to Tk 700 compared to a maximum of Tk 600 previously.

During a recent visit to the Kalitola fruit market, this correspondent found that while that the litchis on display were undersized and lack the proper colour while their peels were filled with spots.

Farmers blame bad weather for the poor yields with many litchi plants in some parts of Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh having failed to even flower.

"My entire production was damaged by the weather," said Md Saju Mia, a farmer of Mashimpur village under Dinajpur sadar upazila.

Md Shamim Ashraf, additional director of Dinajpur DAE, said around 20 per cent of the litchis in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon and Panchagarh have been harvested so far.

On the other hand, farmers are happy to be getting better prices this year with Ishwardi upazila of Pabna expecting an output of 33,500 tonnes worth about Tk 500 to Tk 550 crore.

A total of 3,100 hectares of land in the region have been brought under litchi cultivation this year, according to Mita Sarkar, agriculture officer of Ishwardi upazila.

"About 60 to 65 per cent of the trees are providing yields," he added.

Last year, local farmers got 34,100 tonnes of the fruit worth some Tk 500 crore with each 100-piece bundle selling for Tk 180 to Tk 200.

This year though, 100-piece bundles are going for Tk 250 to Tk 300 and so, farmers are expecting better profit, Sarkar said.

Md Hasibul Islam, a seasonal fruit trader in Atghoria upazila of Pabna, said traders like him are also enjoying the higher price as they are making profit despite the poor supply.

"I took around 5,000 litchis to a roadside retail outlet in the afternoon and sold half within two hours," he added.

Wholesalers are similarly pleased with the higher price as demand has increased in local markets.

"We have been supplying eight to 10 trucks of litchi from the Silimpur wholesale market for transport across the country for the past few days," said Md Rejaul Karim, a local trader.

Echoing the same, Milon Hossain, a trader of the Jatrabari wholesale market in Ishwardi upazila, said they are buying each 100-piece bundle of litchi for up to Tk 300 and sell them for Tk 360.

But the demand is increasing even with this high price, he added.

Md Shajahan Ali Badsha, a leading litchi trader in Ishwardi upazila, said litchi is short lived fruit but it brings handsome profit, which is why cultivation is increasing.

The litchi business lasts for only 10 to 15 days but the farmers in Ishwardi upazila make handsome profit every year.

Some Tk 500 to Tk 600 crore worth of business takes place within the first two weeks of the season and there is no other crop that gives so much profit in such a short time, Badsha said.

As such, litchi cultivation has been expanding over the years with Ishwardi upazila now providing the highest output from a single area, he added.