Chandigarh: Punjab has emerged as India’s leading litchi-producing and exporting state, surpassing Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership. The state produced 71,490 metric tons of litchi in 2023–24, accounting for 12.39% of India’s total output, with cultivation spread across 3,900 hectares in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, and Ropar.
As part of its crop diversification drive, the Mann government’s efforts to promote litchi cultivation have significantly boosted farmers’ income. Punjab’s litchis made their international debut in 2024, when 10 quintals were exported to London, fetching five times higher prices. The success continued in 2025, with 1.5 metric tons shipped to Qatar and Dubai, and export orders worth ₹3–5 crore already secured.
The government has rolled out extensive support and subsidy schemes, including 50% subsidy on packaging, ₹50,000 per hectare for polyhouse replacement, and ₹10,000 per acre for drip irrigation, along with a ₹50 crore cold chain investment. Over 5,000 farmers have received GlobalGAP training, while APEDA-backed air cargo subsidies further enhance competitiveness.
With premium export prices, improved infrastructure, and plans for a GI tag for Pathankot litchi, Punjab is rapidly transforming into India’s litchi export powerhouse, offering farmers a sustainable alternative to the wheat-paddy cycle.
