Agri minister unveils litchi processing unit in Bihar

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today unveiled a litchi processing unit in an effort to boost farmers' income in Bihar, the top producer of the fruit in the country.
The processing unit has been set up at the National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL) along with Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
"It is a matter of pride that scientists at BARC and NRCL have succeeded in treating litchi and preserving it for 60 days at low temperature. One of its processing plants has been developed," Singh said after inaugurating the plant.
The processing technique will be of use to litchi producers but they have to grow superior quality to reap the benefit, he said.

The NRCL is providing 35,000-40,000 plants every year to various institutes and states in the country and is also working with other farm institutes to develop improved varieties, he added.
Bihar, the top lichi producing state, produces about 3,00,000 tonnes of the fruit in 32,000 hectare area annually.