A bumper litchi harvest in Pabna has triggered brisk trading across wholesale and retail markets, with growers, traders and agricultural officials expecting business worth around Tk800 crore this season.
The popular northern district is witnessing strong demand for its famed fruit, particularly the Bombai variety, as truckloads of litchis leave daily for Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rangpur, Narayanganj, Jashore, Kushtia, Rajshahi, Natore and Naogaon. Farmers say favourable weather and heavy flowering boosted production, while buyers are welcoming lower prices compared with previous years.
At Awatapara market in Ishwardi upazila, regarded as one of the largest wholesale litchi hubs in northern Bangladesh, traders and growers crowded the market from early Saturday morning.
Farmers from Pabna Sadar, Ishwardi and Chatmohar arrived carrying baskets and trays filled with freshly harvested litchis, while wholesalers from different districts negotiated prices before loading the fruit onto trucks for shipment across the country.
The market echoed with the calls of buyers and sellers as trading gathered pace throughout the morning.
Growers and traders said local varieties had entered the market earlier in the season, but the Bombai variety was now dominating sales because of its taste and longer shelf life.
Litchi grower Monirul Islam from Dapunia village in Pabna Sadar said the weather had remained favourable throughout the growing season.
“Production is high, so prices are lower this season. Depending on the variety, wholesale prices range between Tk1,000 and Tk2,000 per thousand litchis,” he said.
Another farmer, Abdul Halim from Dashuria in Ishwardi, said he had brought 10,000 litchis to the market but was still bargaining with buyers.
“They are offering Tk1,500 per thousand. I have not sold them yet. Let us see how much I can get. Prices are lower this year, but consumers are getting some relief,” he said.
Wholesale trader Shamim Hossain, who travelled from Dhaka to buy litchis, said supply was abundant and the market remained highly active.
“We are buying the best-quality Bombai litchis at Tk2,000 per thousand, while lower grades are selling for Tk1,000 to Tk1,500,” he said.
Trader Ariful Islam said wholesalers purchased litchis from the market before packing them into baskets for transport to retail markets in other districts.
“The litchis bought at Tk2,000 per thousand are being sold at retail markets for Tk2,500 to Tk2,800,” he said.
Retail sales were also strong in Pabna town, including along Abdul Hamid Road, where customers crowded roadside stalls to buy the seasonal fruit.
Customer Masud Rana said litchi remained one of the most popular fruits of the summer season.
“You cannot avoid eating litchi during the season. I bought 100 litchis for Tk280 for my family,” he said.
Pabna Department of Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Agriculturist Jahangir Alam Pramanik said growers benefited from favourable weather conditions and regular support from agricultural officials.
“There were no major natural disasters this year. Farmers are making profits and consumers are also getting litchis at affordable prices,” he said.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, litchis were cultivated on 4,700 hectares of land in Pabna this year. Officials initially set a production target of 35,000 tonnes, but now expect output to exceed 50,000 tonnes because of the strong harvest.
Photo captions:
Farmers bring litchis to market for sale at Awatapara market in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna on Saturday morning.
Brisk trading continues at the litchi market in Awatapara market in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna on Saturday morning.
Fresh red Bombai litchis on display at Awatapara market in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna on Saturday morning.
Traders pack litchis into baskets after purchase at Awatapara market in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna on Saturday morning.
Workers carry purchased litchis to wholesale depots at Awatapara market in Ishwardi upazila of Pabna on Saturday morning.
