Expectations are high for a bumper Indian litchi crop this year, but higher than normal temperatures may have an effect on orchards for the last weeks of harvest.

According to National Research Centre for Litchi (NRCL) director Dr. Vishal Nath, recent temperatures have been around 107°F (41.66°C), meaning farmers will need to closely monitor water management systems to ensure crops do not spoil at the last juncture of the season.

"The season is going very well generally and we are expecting a good crop with a high volume of litchis. The harvesting will be starting shortly and the fruit will be ready on or around June 15," Nath told www.freshfruitportal.com.

"The flowering stage went very well and the only thing we need to concentrate on now is that crop management at this time is particularly crucial because the higher than normal temperatures put the crop under a little extra stress.

"But with good agriculture practices, such as water management and post-harvest management, any dangers of the crops being damaged, will be avoided and we will get some very high quality fruit out to market. For example, if you have good water management the ill effect of the temperature is neutralized so the color pigment takes place nicely."

Litchi farmers in Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, have all reported good progress with the overall forecast for June indicating 'an exceptional crop'.

"Very soon we will know more in terms on volumes but if we get the bumper crop we are expecting then this potentially opens up export markets, which is good news for litchi farmers and the economy of India," Nath added.

In 2011, the last time the country enjoyed a plentiful harvest, litchis were exported to Europe and the Middle East, while in contrast, the 2012-2013 season was less successful due to a spate of bad weather and a high level of pests, which affectedfruit quality and its suitability for the export market.

A strong domestic market

Indians have been feasting on the national mango varieties ever since a ban prevented the country's 'king of fruit' from export to the EU earlier this month. Traditionally, another favored fruit among communities at this time of year is the sweet sub-tropical litchi, which also tends to maintain a high selling price domestically.

"Usually the domestic market for litchis is extremely good because the people really enjoy this fruit in the summer time and the farmers get some good returns in the domestic market which is a good scenario for them," Nath said.

"We know for sure the fruit will be sold in the large markets in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai as well as other big cities around the country. If the yields are exceptional, exports markets are also a possibility.

"We need to make sure everything goes according to plan over the coming days and weeks."

The NRCL has set up a program designed to educate the country's litchi producers on the latest technologies and methods to ensure high yields of good quality fruit.

Two of the main techniques that are critical at this point are a bagging system that covers trees with netting preventing them from being sun scorched, while the second is making sure fruits are harvested at the proper maturity and during the early part of the day to improve shelf life and quality.

Litchis ripen on the tree and are well-known for being a highly perishable fruit, making exports complicated. However, with the use of some technologies coming from the NRCL, Nath said farmers and exporters were using the latest know-how.

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