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| Litchi production may dip 50% this season |
| Press Trust of India / New Delhi Apr 14, 2010, 13:57 IST |
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Litchi production may be halved to around 2.24 lakh tonnes as against last year due to sudden rise in temperature in the growing regions.
"This year the production of litchi is likely to go down by 50 per cent compared to last year as day-time temperature has suddenly gone up in the main growing regions of Bihar, Uttrakhand and Himachal," Litchi Growers Association of India President Niraj Chhinwal told PTI.
In 2009, 4.48 lakh tonnes of litchi was produced in India in 73,000 hectares of area, as per National Horticulture Board data.
Chhinwal said at the beginning of the current season crop (March-June) prospects looked encouraging, but the sudden rise in temperature during day-time and a drastic fall in the evenings affected the crop at the flowering stage.
The actual loss, however, can be measured in the next 10-15 days only.
The temperature, that usually goes up to 41-42 degree in May, has already touched 42 degree Celsius in Muzaffarpur, Litchi Growers Association Secretary Baccha Prasad said.
Prasad said if there is no rainfall in next 1-2 weeks, production of most popular litchi variety 'Sahi', grown in Muzaffarpur, might be completely destroyed.
"Sahi litchi, if weather supports, will hit the market on May 20, is the most delicate. This is grown only in Bihar's Muzaffarpur area," he added.
The litchi season begins with the 'Bambiya' variety, grown in West Bengal. This variety hits the market around the second week of May.
Litchi is mainly grown in Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The fruit is also grown in Tripura, Assam, Orissa and Jharkhand in small quantity.
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