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Sci Tech
FARMER'S NOTEBOOK
Improved marketing can enhance litchi farmers’ income
M.J. PRABU
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Lack of good planting material is a major obstacle for farmers
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— Photo: K.K. Mustafah
Perishable nature: The fruits have a short shelf-life.
Litchi fruit is a native of southern China. The deliciously flavoured, sweet, juicy and pearly white flesh of the fruit is a rich source of vitamin C. India accounts for about one-fifth of the global production and has a good export potential.
While Bihar is the leading State in litchi production in the country, Assam, Orissa, Punjab, Tripura, Uttara Khand, and West Bengal are the other main litchi growing States.
Ideal climate
Bihar accounts for three-fourth of the litchi production of the country. The agro-climatic conditions of the State are ideal for this fruit cultivation.
Litchi growing areas have well-drained, sandy loam or clayey loamy soil of high fertility suitable for its cultivation. The frost free climate and comparatively low temperature during winter are favourable for flowering and bud growth.
Success rate
The crop is propagated commercially by air layering and also by grafting. But the success rate with air layering is normally more than 90 per cent while grafting technique is yet to be standardised, according to Mr. Ramadhar, Chairman, Bihar State Farmers Commission, Patna.
Good preparation of the planting site, 1-2 months before planting helps in better establishment of the saplings and ensures good growth during the early phase.
About 100 plants are required for one hectare and should be planted at a spacing of 9 x 9 mts. During the first two years after planting, intercrops such as vegetables, cereals, fruit crops such as papaya and gooseberry can be grown.
The crop comes to flowering from March to mid April. The duration of the flowering period varies from 27 - 38 days according to the variety grown.
Fruit setting
Fruit setting, however, takes place in the latter part of flowering and is completed during the last 10 to 15 days. It takes about 8 weeks for the fruits to mature from the date of setting. Fruit drop is a serious problem during initial stages (2-3 weeks) of growth.
A spray of 10 mg of auxin dissolved in one litre during fruit setting stage effectively controls the drop. Fruit cracking is a problem during later stages of fruit growth.
Maintaining high soil moisture regime throughout the fruit development period greatly helps in minimising fruit dropping, according to Mr. Ramadhar.
The fruits have a short shelf-life. Harvesting at right maturity, packaging, temperature maintenance during storage, and transport are critical factors that, if properly managed, can prolong the storage and shelf-life of the fruits to as long as six weeks, he explained.
“It is the usual practice of litchi growers to generally lease out their standing crop to contractors, usually for one year just before the flowering season.
“The contractors negotiate individually with growers regarding price of the orchard, considering age of trees, maintenance of orchard, proportion of fruit bearing trees and earlier record of fruit bearing,” explained Mr. Ramadhar.
Generally, 25 per cent of the total price is paid to farmers at the time of contract and the remaining 75 per cent is paid during the time of harvest.
Planting material
Regarding availability of planting material, he said, “most of the planting materials are currently being accessed from the private nurseries in Bihar.” But at present the litchi economy in the State is plagued by a number of problems such as lack of good planting material, processing and marketing facilities.
“Due to perishable nature of the fruit, unorganised marketing chain and failure to the meet international export standards, the export potential of this fruit has not crossed even one per cent level of the State’s production,” he lamented.
Cultural practices
The immediate need of the hour, according to Mr. Ramadhar is to provide improved planting material, training in scientific, cultural practices and harvesting methods including prevention of post harvest losses, grading, value addition, and improved transportation, pre-cooling and processing facilities to litchi growers.
For more information, readers may contact Mr. Ramadhar, Chairman, Bihar State Farmers Commission, Pant Bhawan, Bailey Road, Patna 800001, e-mail: ramadhar@vsnl.com or kisanayog@gmail.com, phone (0612) 2206162, 2232847, fax (0612) 2206169.
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