Litchi production more by over 60 pc
According to the preliminary estimates, litchi production in Bihar has gone up by 50 percent to 60 percent over the previous year.
By Jayashree Bhosale, ET Bureau | Updated:
PUNE: According to the preliminary estimates, litchi production in Bihar, that grows 60 percent of the country's litchi production, has gone up by 50 percent to 60 percent over the previous year.
"Due to very favourable climatic conditions coupled with intermittent rainfall, litchi production was record high this year," said Dr Vishal Nath, director, National Research Centre for Litchi, Muzafarrpur.
Rajesh Pardeshi, Pune-based litchi trader said, "Litchi arrivals in Pune have doubled this year as compared to the previous year. The fruit is available for Rs 40-60/kg in the wholesale market."
Despite bumper production, the prices remained at last year's level. Farmers got average rate of about Rs 15/kg for the fruit. "Though the production was good, processors did not benefit much as they had to pay about Rs 17/kg," said Keshav Nandan, secretary, Bihar Litchi Growers' Association and grower and processor of litchi. Hardly 1 percent of the litchi is processed in the country and some of it is exported to the neighbouring countries. Bihar has 10 to 12 processing units.
The litchi season has almost finished in Bihar. But the juicy fruit will continue to come till the first week of July from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other areas. In the retail markets in North India, the fruit was sold for an average price of Rs 50/kg. But in South, the retail price varied between Rs 80/kg to Rs 180/kg depending upon the city it was sold in.
"Due to very favourable climatic conditions coupled with intermittent rainfall, litchi production was record high this year," said Dr Vishal Nath, director, National Research Centre for Litchi, Muzafarrpur.
Rajesh Pardeshi, Pune-based litchi trader said, "Litchi arrivals in Pune have doubled this year as compared to the previous year. The fruit is available for Rs 40-60/kg in the wholesale market."
Despite bumper production, the prices remained at last year's level. Farmers got average rate of about Rs 15/kg for the fruit. "Though the production was good, processors did not benefit much as they had to pay about Rs 17/kg," said Keshav Nandan, secretary, Bihar Litchi Growers' Association and grower and processor of litchi. Hardly 1 percent of the litchi is processed in the country and some of it is exported to the neighbouring countries. Bihar has 10 to 12 processing units.
The litchi season has almost finished in Bihar. But the juicy fruit will continue to come till the first week of July from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and other areas. In the retail markets in North India, the fruit was sold for an average price of Rs 50/kg. But in South, the retail price varied between Rs 80/kg to Rs 180/kg depending upon the city it was sold in.
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