India, which exported mangoes to US in 2007 after a 17 year long ban, will now export fresh litchi to US for the first time. Export may begin in next summer season.
“We are gearing up for export of litchi to US for the first time. The procedures for treating the fruits have been mutually agreed. Farmers in Bihar, which is the country’s largest litchi producer, will be the main beneficiary,” said Asit Tripathy, chairman of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Ranjan Kedia, promoter of Radha Krishna Impex Ltd, the country’s largest litchi exporter said the modalities have been worked out and a formal application will now go from APEDA to the USFDA. Permission is expected by the end of year.
“Currently, we only export processed litchi to US. Now, we shall be in a position to export fresh litchi as well. We will use sulphur dioxide as a post harvest fumigant and this will prevent blackening of skin and improves shelf life,” said Kedia.
At 250,000 tonnes of litchi production, India is the second biggest litchi producer after China. Bihar accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the produce. India exports around 1,300 tonnes of fresh and processed litchi, mainly to Europe and Asian countries. According to Kedia, the value of litchi export would be close to Rs 5 crore.link
Showing posts with label litchi farmer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label litchi farmer. Show all posts
Wednesday 19 August 2009
Monday 11 May 2009
Litchi production in bihar may dip by 50 per cent this season
Litchi production is likely to dip by 20 per cent from the normal 4.2 lakh tonnes to around 3.36 lakh tonnes this year due to adverse weather conditions in the growing regions.
"This year the production may go down by 20 per cent from the normal crop size as the weather was extremely hot with almost no rainfall in the main growing regions of Bihar, Uttrakhand and Himachal," Litchi Growers Association of India President Niraj Chhinwal.
In Bihar production may dip by 50 per cent if there is no rainfall in a week, a litchi farmer in Muzaffarpur said.
For the last 2-3 years there has been a dip in litchi production due to adverse weather conditions, he added.
The season for the fruit has already started with the 'Bambiya' variety from West Bengal currently available in the markets.
The most popular variety 'Sahi', grown in Muzaffarpur, will hit the market from May 20, Chhinwal added. The Bihar variety will be followed by the ones from Uttarakhand and then Himachal.
Litchi is mainly grown in about 7,000 hectares in Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The fruit is also grown in Tripura, Assam, Orissa and Jharkhand.
"This year the production may go down by 20 per cent from the normal crop size as the weather was extremely hot with almost no rainfall in the main growing regions of Bihar, Uttrakhand and Himachal," Litchi Growers Association of India President Niraj Chhinwal.
In Bihar production may dip by 50 per cent if there is no rainfall in a week, a litchi farmer in Muzaffarpur said.
For the last 2-3 years there has been a dip in litchi production due to adverse weather conditions, he added.
The season for the fruit has already started with the 'Bambiya' variety from West Bengal currently available in the markets.
The most popular variety 'Sahi', grown in Muzaffarpur, will hit the market from May 20, Chhinwal added. The Bihar variety will be followed by the ones from Uttarakhand and then Himachal.
Litchi is mainly grown in about 7,000 hectares in Bihar, West Bengal, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The fruit is also grown in Tripura, Assam, Orissa and Jharkhand.
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