About Litchi
Litchi has one of the shortest seasons of any Indian fruit, a few weeks in May and June, and Muzaffarpur's Shahi Litchi is the most famous name.
Where Litchi Is Grown in West Bengal
The main litchi districts of West Bengal are Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia. West Bengal is among India's largest rice producers and its biggest grower of jute and vegetables. It is also a major producer of potato, mustard, masoor, sesame, tuberose, marigold, Malda mangoes, litchi and Darjeeling tea.
Season in West Bengal
Mid-May to June. Exact arrival dates in West Bengal depend on local sowing and the monsoon, so check current arrivals before planning purchases.
How Litchi Is Sold in West Bengal
Farm produce is sold through regulated APMC market yards under the state's agricultural produce marketing law, run by the state agricultural marketing board, with many yards linked to eNAM. Paddy is bought through the state's procurement centres and cooperative societies.
Other major markets in West Bengal
- Mullick Ghat, KolkataFlowersAboutExplore
- Koley Market, KolkataVegetablesAboutExplore
- Posta Bazar, KolkataPulses, grainsAboutExplore
- Hooghly (Tarakeswar, Singur)PotatoAboutExplore
- MaldaMangoAboutExplore
State Agencies in West Bengal
Litchi has no minimum support price, so it is bought almost entirely by private traders, processors and exporters. State marketing bodies regulate the markets and support farmer producer organisations.
- West Bengal State Agricultural Marketing BoardRegulated marketsAboutExplore
- West Bengal Food and Supplies DepartmentPaddy procurementAboutExplore
- Jute Corporation of IndiaKolkata · raw jute buyingAboutExplore
Quality and Price Notes
Litchi is sold fresh in bunches or loose in baskets lined with leaves, and processed into juice, squash, pulp and canned litchi. Because the fruit loses its red colour and moisture within two or three days, traders rush it from Muzaffarpur to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad by road, rail and air. Small volumes are flown to the Gulf and Europe.
Buyers want bright red, unblemished fruit of good size with a small seed; Shahi has a strong rose aroma and sells at a premium over China, which is larger and later. Pre-cooling, sulphur treatment for colour retention and reefer transport are slowly improving shelf life.
A heat wave or hailstorm in April–May causes fruit cracking and drop, which cuts supply; a good season can flood markets for a few weeks. Transport availability during the short harvest window matters more for litchi than almost any other fruit.
Buyers, Processors and Exporters
These companies and bodies buy, process or export litchi across India, including from West Bengal. Tap a name for details.
- INI Farms Pvt LtdExporter of bananas, pomegranates and grapes to about 35 countriesAboutExplore
- Freshtrop Fruits LtdAhmedabad · listed; grapes and pomegranate exporterAboutExplore
- KB Exports Pvt LtdMumbai · fresh fruit and vegetable exporter (KayBee)AboutExplore
- Sahyadri Farmers Producer Company LtdNashik · grapes, fruits and processingAboutExplore
- APEDAExport registration and residue control (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet)AboutExplore
Research and Advice in West Bengal
New varieties, crop advice and seed for litchi growers in West Bengal come from the state agricultural universities below and from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in each district.
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi ViswavidyalayaMohanpur, NadiaAboutExplore
- Uttar Banga Krishi ViswavidyalayaCooch BeharAboutExplore
Litchi in Other States
Bihar · Jharkhand · Uttarakhand · Punjab · Assam
Related: Litchi – all India · West Bengal · All crops
Names are listed for reference only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation. The About and Explore buttons open Google in a new tab; results there are generated by Google and third parties, not by this site. Prices, MSP, export rules and schemes change often. Nothing here is financial, legal or purchasing advice. Full disclaimer