Litchi farmers in Pabna are expecting a bumper harvest this year after years of heavy losses -- thanks to favourable weather conditions.

While farmers remain cautious about potential nor'wester storms, they believe that if the weather stays kind to them, they will see record-breaking profits.

​During a visit to Ishwardi -- Bangladesh's largest litchi-producing hub -- most trees were seen blanketed in buds.

“I have been cultivating litchi for a decade, but I have never seen such a spectacular bloom,” said Sheikh Mehedi Hasan of Shahapur village, estimating 10,000 to 12,000 fruits from large trees, 7,000 to 8,000 from medium trees, and 4,000 to 5,000 from smaller ones.

​"I have an orchard with over a hundred trees. Last year, only 20 to 25 trees had buds, but this year, 70 to 80 trees are in full bloom," Md. Hasan Ali of Nawdapara village told The Daily Star.

​Another farmer and trader, Md. Rakibul Islam of Silimpur village, shared similar optimism. "Over 50 of my 70 trees are in full bloom. I am expecting a total yield of 3.5 to 4 lakh litchis this year," Rakib said.

Prices are currently set at Tk 1,200 per thousand fruits for local varieties and Tk 1,700-1,800 for hybrids such as Bombay and China‑3.

While the prices are slightly lower than last year's, farmers and traders believe the sheer volume of the fruits will ensure record profits.

​Speaking to The Daily Star, Sajahan Ali Badsha, a litchi farming pioneer in Pabna, said that litchi cultivation is the primary economic driver in the region.

​“Approximately Tk 500 crore worth of litchi business usually takes place over two months of summer in Pabna," Badsha said.

​He added that if 60 to 70 percent of these buds successfully mature into fruits, this year's business may exceed Tk 700 to 800 crore, surpassing all previous records.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), 4,620 hectares have been brought under litchi cultivation in Pabna this year, with over 3,000 hectares in Ishwardi alone.

Md Shah Alam, development section officer at DAE Pabna, said last year’s yield was the lowest in a decade at 34,898 metric tonnes, compared to 46,790 in 2024.

​"We usually see a yield of 10 metric tonnes per hectare, but this year we are expecting at least 11 metric tonnes per hectare due to healthy blooms," Shah Alam said. "We anticipate a total production exceeding 50,000 metric tonnes, provided there are no major natural disasters."