The litchi season may end earlier than usual this year as unfavourable weather conditions led to lower production of the tropical fruit. The season is usually 45 days long but it might not last for even a month this year. According to traders and plantation owners in Dinajpur, production was nowhere near the expected level.
Litchi is grown across all 64 districts of Bangladesh, but just 26 of these are engaged in commercial production. Litchis from Dinajpur, the largest growing district, are in high demand. Litchis already arrived in the markets in the middle of May, even though the harvests usually begin at the end of May or early June.
"We started picking early this year as it ripened early," a litchi grower of Dhukurjhari village told thedailystar.net. Litchis from surrounding counties hit a seasonal market in Dinajpur town about a week ago, said local traders.
Several varieties of the fruit are produced in Dinajpur, including Madrazi, Bombai, Bedana, Kathali and China 1, 2 and 3. Of them, the Madrazi variety has already flooded the markets while Bedana is available on a small scale.
