The traditional lychee of Mongolbaria in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj is no longer just a seasonal fruit; it has become an important part of the whole area's identity and economy. Its juicy flesh, small seed, honey-sweet taste and distinctive aroma have made it famous across the country. The agriculture department expects lychees worth about Tk 10 to 12 crore to be sold this season, and says it is also taking steps to apply for geographical indication (GI) recognition for Mongolbaria lychee.

At this time of year Mongolbaria village turns into a festival. The red glow of ripe lychees hanging from the trees and their sweet scent fill the whole area. Buyers, traders and visitors are coming from far and wide. Some come on family outings, some buy their favourite lychees, and some share the area's beauty on social media.

Entering Mongolbaria village, rows of lychee trees catch the eye, in courtyards, along roads, on pond banks and along field ridges. Clusters of lychees are pink in places and deep red in others, and many branches bend under their weight. From morning to evening, workers and orchard owners are busy picking, tending and selling.

Lychees are now selling at Tk 500 to Tk 600 per 100 depending on size and quality, with some especially large ones fetching more. Growers say many orchards' fruit is sold before it even reaches the market.

Locals say the history of Mongolbaria lychee goes back about 225 years. They have heard from their forefathers that around 1802 a man from the village brought two lychee saplings from China and planted them there, and the famous variety spread from those trees. Today the lychee is grown not only in Mongolbaria but also in the nearby villages of Kumarpur, Narandi and Hosendi.

According to the upazila agriculture office, the area now has more than 10,000 lychee trees. Several thousand families are directly or indirectly involved in growing, tending, picking, transporting and selling lychees. In Mongolbaria village alone about 200 families grow lychees commercially.

Pakundia upazila agriculture officer Nur-e-Alam said: "Mongolbaria lychee is known across the country as a popular and tasty variety. Its taste, aroma and quality set it apart from lychees from other areas. Favourable weather this year has produced a very good yield. Lychees worth about Tk 10 to 12 crore are likely to be sold this season."

"Given the heritage and distinctiveness of Mongolbaria lychee, we are working on applying for GI (geographical indication) recognition. With GI recognition, the brand value of the area's lychee will rise further and growers will benefit financially," he added.

Pakundia upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Rupam Das said: "Mongolbaria lychee has now become a strong brand. We want it to become better known across the country and for growers to get fair prices."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.