The story
Muzaffarpur's deep alluvial soil, humid summers and the Burhi Gandak plain suit litchi orchards, and the district's Shahi variety is prized for its aroma. The National Research Centre on Litchi was set up here in 2001. Shahi Litchi of Bihar received a GI tag in 2018, and exports by air to the UK and the Gulf have begun.
In numbers
In Bihar about 300 thousand metric tonnes of litchi is produced from 32 thousand hectares; Bihar's contribution to India's litchi production is about 40 percent.
Bihar is the top litchi producing State (PIB release, Ministry of Agriculture) · 2017Bihar accounts for nearly 35% of India's litchi output.
GST Rate Rationalisation: Expanding Opportunities for Bihar (PIB factsheet) · 2025The Muzaffarpur honey cluster involves over 750 beekeepers.
GST Rate Rationalisation: Expanding Opportunities for Bihar (PIB factsheet) · 2025
GI tag
- Shahi Litchi of BiharApplication no. Application No. 552Registration details of Geographical Indications (state-wise register), IP India
Ways in for a newcomer
- Pre-cooling and cold-chain for fresh litchi to metros
- Litchi pulp, juice and squash units
- Litchi honey from orchard bee-keeping
- Air-cargo aggregation for export
Problems the cluster faces
- Very short harvest window and fast spoilage
- Heat waves and fruit cracking
- Few processing units and weak cold chain
Businesses to start here
Multi-Fruit Juice and Squash Unit →Fruit and Vegetable Canning Unit (Mango Pulp, Curried Vegetables) →Honey Bee Farming (Beekeeping) →Honey Processing and Bottling Plant →Cold Room (2 × 10 MT) for Fruit and Vegetables →