Mozambique: Lychee exports increase

Exports of Mozambican lychees to Europe have been growing, a trend influenced by increased production, promotion and provision of technical support to farmers who cultivate this crop. Such were the comments made on Thursday by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Celso Correia, who was visiting a lychee production and processing unit in Catuane administrative post, Matutuíne district, Maputo province. Mozambique currently produces around 55,000 tons of lychee per year, a quantity that is increasing in line with the expansion of production areas. Manica province accounts for around 60% of national lychee production, with about 32,614 tons per year, followed by Maputo province with 21,674 tons per year. Manica aims to increase production of the fruit in the coming years, with Europe its main export market, especially England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany. In terms of revenue, Minister Correia said that lychee generates, on average, around US$3 million a year, with ...