Clusters of red and green lychees dangle from the trees in Meherpur district's orchards. Despite reduced production due to drought, heatwaves, and adverse weather, the delectable lychees are fetching high prices, compensating orchard owners for their losses.
 
In various orchards across Meherpur district, clusters of red and green lychees hang from the trees. This delicious lychee, known for meeting the district's demand each year, is sold in the capital city Dhaka as well as in various other districts of the country. Currently, the marketing of the Ati variety lychee has started. The whole district is bustling with the grand festival of lychee sales. litchi farmers are passing busy times with the marketing of the fruit.
 
Despite reduced production due to drought, heatwaves, and adverse weather, orchard owners are compensating through high prices. While the Ati lychee sales have begun, farmers are now busy tending to the Bombay, Ata Bombay, and China-3 varieties. The delectable taste of this district's lychees makes them highly sought after across the country. Various wholesalers are arriving to purchase orchards. The agricultural department states that farmers are getting fair prices for their lychees. If this trend continues, farmers will recover their losses and earn profits.
 
According to data from the district agricultural department, there are lychee orchards on approximately 800 hectares of land, with a production target of 6,500 tons.
 
Mojibur Rahman, a lychee farmer from Jhaubaria village in Meherpur Sadar Upazila, reported that he has an Ati and Bombay lychee orchard on two bighas of land with 45 trees. Not all trees bore fruit this year. The excessive heat caused the fruits to drop prematurely, resulting in lower production. However, the high prices this year will somewhat offset the losses.
 
Orchard owner Azgar Ali stated that Meherpur lychees have a nationwide demand every year. Usually, the lychees produced here meet the district's demand and are sent to various other districts. But this year, due to lower production, the local demand is being met but there is not enough for outside districts. Additionally, the price of lychees within the district is comparable to that in other districts. Despite lower yields due to adverse weather, the high prices are promising good profits after covering expenses.
 
Hirok Ali, an orchard owner from Vhatpara village in Gangni Upazila, said that this year the price of lychees is good. A hundred lychees are being sold for TK 300, and wholesalers from different districts are buying them at TK 250 per hundred. The current market price of one thousand lychees (one 'kaun') ranges from TK 2500 to 2700. Even though there has been a production crisis, selling lychees is still profitable.
 
Hafizul Islam, a wholesaler from Barisal who came to buy lychees, told Voice7 News that he had purchased seven orchards based on the size of the fruits. However, due to the excessive heat, many fruits dropped prematurely. The orchard owners refunded some money to avoid potential losses. After accounting for the costs of caretaking, harvesting, and transportation, profits remain minimal. Despite this, he continues the business due to his 20-year history in the trade.
 
Sagar Ahmed, a laborer involved in lychee harvesting, said he works in the orchards every year during this season. From 6 AM to 1 PM, he earns a wage of TK 500. This work continues for about a month. Once the Ati lychees are sold, the sales of Bombay and China-3 lychees will begin. Thousands of laborers like Sagar Ahmed earn their livelihood working in various lychee orchards.
 
Litchi trader Mohan Ali from Meherpur market reported that his warehouse sells about 2000 kauns of lychees daily. In previous years, it was 4-5 thousand kauns. This year, the supply is less. Currently, one kaun is being sold for TK 2700 to 3200, and Bombay lychees for TK 3200 to 3700.
 
Bijay Krishna Haldar, the deputy director of the Meherpur district agricultural extension department, told Voice7 News that there are lychee orchards on approximately 800 hectares of land, with a production target of 6,500 tons. Farmers are selling each kaun of lychees for TK 2500 to 2700. Currently, Ati lychee sales have started, followed by Bombay, Ata Bombay, and China-3 varieties. Farmers are benefiting from selling lychees in different districts after meeting the local demand. The agricultural department continues to provide all necessary advice on lychee harvesting techniques, marketing methods, and maintenance.

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