Litchi cultivation has expanded to 19 Indian states, according to officials

Litchi, the sweet and juicy fruit of India’s hot summers, is no longer restricted to Muzaffarpur in Bihar. It is now being cultivated across 19 Indian states, an official has told this reporter. “It may sound ambitious but is true. Litchi cultivation for commercial purposes is going on in 19 states. We are providing technical help, plants and training to farmers with the sole aim of expanding the fruit's cultivation across India,” Muzaffarpur-based National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL) director Bikash Das told this reporter. He said farmers in other states have been taking the lead to cultivate litchi for commercial production. This was not the case a few years ago. “NRCL scientists are visiting farmers and boosting their confidence to go ahead with litchi cultivation. This is resulting in the expansion of litchi cultivation,” Das said. Litchi cultivation for commercial production has started in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya ...