Renowned for its delectable fruit, the royal litchi from Muzaffarpur in Bihar is poised to thrive in the soils of southern and western India. Eager requests for these litchi plants have been pouring in from Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, indicating a rise in their popularity beyond traditional boundaries. The National Litchi Research Centre has taken note and is pioneering the expansion by establishing a litchi bank on its premises. A burgeoning nursery is in place, currently nurturing 37,000 saplings ready to be dispatched to meet the demands from various states.
A Litchi Bank in the Making
The director of the Litchi Research Centre, Dr. Vikas Das, announced that the nursery can accommodate up to 50,000 plants and currently focuses on 37,000 new saplings. They are meticulously cared for, with a dedicated scientist overseeing the nursery operations. The nursery cultivates not just the royal and Chinese varieties but also three species developed by the centre: Gandaki Yogita, Gandaki Lalima, and Gandaki Sampada.
Litchi Demand in These States
Impressively, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have ordered 1,000 plants, while Chhattisgarh and Arunachal Pradesh requested 7,000, and Sikkim has shown interest in 40,000 royal litchi plants. Additionally, an order has been received from Jharkhand's Gumla region. Alongside farmers, Agriculture Development Centres have shown interest, ensuring timely delivery. Such initiatives promise to increase the footprint of the royal litchi significantly.
Dr. Vikas Das noted the objective to strengthen the export network of royal litchi, which in turn, will substantially enhance the farmers' earnings. To achieve this, collaborations with the Agriculture Department, the National Horticulture Board, and other agencies are being pursued. The demand-driven distribution of plants is underway, and training in litchi-related products is being provided to empower women towards self-reliance.
