Litchi Cultivation in India: Issues, Horticulture & More | UPSC Notes

Litchi is a delectably juicy fruit famous for its excellent quality. Litchi belongs to the Sapindaceae family. Litchi is a fruit which is very famous in almost the entire India and abroad but more in Eastern Indian states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh etc. Shahi litchi is a category of litchi which got GI tag in Bihar. There have been many cases of disease and deaths as well which happened due to consumption of this fruit especially in districts like Muzaffarpur of Bihar.

This fruit and its cultivation in India is heavily dependent on rains, especially monsoon rains. Any significant change in the amount of rainfall affects the production and quality of litchi. Government of Bihar is aggressively pushing to expand the cultivation of shahi litchi and also increase the amount and number of countries where they can export litchi.

Important Facts About Litchi

These are the following interesting facts related to litchi and its cultivation in India:

• Nutritional Benefits: Litchi is a very rich source of vitamin C. It is very rich in antioxidants and many other nutrients which helps to build a healthy immune system and overall well-being.
• Cultural Significance: It is very famous in Chinese culture as it is associated with good fortunes and they consume it during celebrations and festivals. In India , it is a source of income for many people and also helps to curb the malnutrition which is very much prevalent in India.
• Seasonality: Litchis are grown in late spring to early summer. However it may vary from region to region.
• Uses: Apart from consuming it directly, it is used in juices, adding flavor to other food items etc and thus it is a source of employment for many.

Agro-climatic Requirements of Litchi 

Litchi is a sub-tropical fruit that grows mostly in a moist subtropical climate. It is ideally suited for low elevations. Litchi can be cultivated up to an altitude of 800 m. Litchi cultivations flourishes in 

a deep, well-drained loamy soil which is generally rich in organic matter, and have pH range of 5.0 to 7.0. 

As discussed above, rainfall plays a very important role in litchi cultivation. Litchi cultivation is affected by moisture, prolonged rainfall especially during the flowering period. However, this can be detrimental too, as it can lead to interference with pollination. 

Litchi Cultivation in India

Traditionally, litchi is cultivated commercially in India and mostly concentrated in the north, in the foothills of the Himalayas from Tripura to Jammu & Kashmir, and the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. 

However, its demand has increased significantly and thus the crop's viability, commercial cultivation has expanded to eastern states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, among others. 

Global Scenario 

India is the second-largest producer of litchi in the world followed by the People's Republic of China. Other major litchi-producing countries are Thailand, Australia, South Africa, Madagascar, and Florida in the United States. With GI tags given to shahi litchi, it is expected that the export competitiveness of Indian fruit will increase and provide economic benefits to India.

Status of India’s Horticulture Sector

The Horticulture sector is vast and diverse as it encompasses cultivation, production, processing as well as marketing of fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. This sector is providing livelihood for many people. These are some of the statistics and facts related to horticulture sector and its status in India:

• Production is around 355.48 Million Tonnes in 2022-23. Fruits and vegetables account for almost 90% of India’s total horticulture production.

• Contribution to Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) is 33% 
• India ranks 2nd in terms of production of fruits and vegetables in the world after China.
• According to 2022 data from FAO, India was the largest producer of Onions, ginger and okra among vegetables.
• According to FAO, India ranks second in production of Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Brinjal, Cabbages, etc.
• Apart from this India ranks 1st in the production of Bananas, Mangoes and Papayas.
• In terms of export, India is ranked 14th in vegetables and 23rd in fruits.

Read more about the National Horticulture Mission!

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