Bihar’s Litchi Reaches Metros on Darbhanga Airport Wings
Bihar's Mithila Litchi! (Image Bihar Agri Dept)
Bihar’s Litchi Export Hits Record 250 Tonnes in 2025, Registers 108% Growth Over Previous Year
By AMIT KUMAR
PATNA, June 21, 2025 — Bihar’s famed Mithila litchi has set a new benchmark in exports this year, with a record 250 tonnes shipped so far in 2025 via Darbhanga Airport to major cities across India. This marks a sharp 108% increase from the 120 tonnes exported in 2024. The major turnaround has come on the back of the Litchi growers shipping consignments through Indigo flights operating from the Darbhanga Airport.
The development is being hailed as a significant milestone in connecting Bihar’s litchi farmers with wider national markets through improved air cargo logistics. This year, fresh litchis from Bihar have been swiftly delivered to metropolitan cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) operated Darbhanga Airport has played a key role in facilitating the rapid transport of Mithila’s prized produce, said the Bihar government in a media statement on Saturday.
Following approval from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on May 20, SpiceJet became the first airline to begin litchi shipments, dispatching its first consignment to Mumbai on May 21. Indigo Airlines followed suit on May 23, while Akasa Air commenced shipments from June 1. “Indigo Airlines transported 159.2 tonnes while SpiceJet shipped 47 tonnes of Litchis. Akasa Air carried 44.5 tonnes of the famed summer fruit,” added the state government in the media statement.
Together, the three airlines enabled the transport of more than 250 tonnes of litchis this season through air cargo, added the state government. Despite adverse weather conditions, the successful execution of the litchi export initiative was made possible through coordinated efforts by the Regional Headquarters (RHQ-ER), Darbhanga Airport, AAI Cargo and Logistics (AAICLAS), and airline teams.
Officials stated that the success reflects Bihar’s growing capacity in agri-export logistics and the strong national demand for its high-quality litchis. The Bihar government sees this achievement as a major boost for horticultural farmers in the state, providing both enhanced income opportunities and national recognition for the state’s premium produce.
A number of enterprising youths are tapping social media platforms to connect with buyers in metropolitan cities, targeting the Bihar’s migrated population. They are also sending consignments of fruits through trains. The people are paying at four times the prices of fruits in the metropolitan cities, said an official.
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