Bihar’s Muzaffarpur, widely known as the Litchi Kingdom of India, has traditionally enjoyed a climate and soil ideally suited to the cultivation of litchi. Vast orchards stretch across the district and beyond, making the region the largest contributor to Bihar’s 40%+ share in India’s total litchi production.

Most celebrated for the Shahi Litchi, an aromatic variety famous for its juice and pulp, the pre-monsoon months of May and June sees Muzaffarpur produce and export lakhs of tonnes of this signature fruit, both within India and to international markets. This period also brings a surge in economic activity, boosting seasonal employment across farming, packaging, transportation, and export logistics.

However, over the past decade, this litchi economy has come under growing pressure from increasingly erratic weather. High temperatures, often exceeding 40°C, along with unseasonal rains and strong winds, have not only led to reduced yields but also a noticeable decline in the fruit’s characteristic sweetness and size. If these trends were to continue, they could mean significant trouble for one of the region’s most vital agricultural industries in the coming years.