Madagascar sees bumper lychee harvest as investigators probe trade kingpin

Madagascar has opened its lychee export season with strong harvests and record prices – even as investigators examine a sector that has for years been controlled by tycoon Mamy Ravatomanga, now under arrest in Mauritius. Ravatomanga, a close ally of former president Andry Rajoelina, long dominated the trade through his company Sodiat. At the busy port of Tamatave at the end of last month, workers began loading the first of three ships bound for Europe. Heavy storms are slowing operations because pallets cannot be moved in the rain, as exporters say the cardboard boxes must stay dry to protect the fruit. They also say the crop is unusually good this year – with perfect ripeness, the desired 28mm fruit size and yields that are above expectations. “The 20,000-tonne lychee mark will easily be reached,” one exporter told RFI's Sarah Tétaud. Prices are climbing too. Payments to collectors and producers in direct sales now exceed 2,000 ariary per kilo (around 38 euro cents). The good ...