Lychee also spelt litchi, is a very important sub-tropical fruit crop of Nepal (Huang et al. 2005). The fruit grows on evergreen trees and bear fleshy fruits that are up to 5 cm long and 4 cm wide. The outside of the lychee is covered by a pink-red, roughly textured skin that is inedible but easily removed to expose a layer of sweet, translucent white flesh. Lychees are high in sugar and contain many vitamins and minerals essential for human health. The fruit can be eaten fresh, frozen, canned, dried or processed into juice, wine, pickles, preserves, ice cream and yogurt (Huang et al. 2005).
Nepal is geographically divided into three parts: Terai, Hills and Mountains (Singh, 2002). Since there is such a range geographically, the temperature ranges from subtropical in the Terai, whereas the mountains face a cooler climate (Singh, 2002). This variation in climate allows a diverse range in the production of fruits including the lychee (Huang et al. 2005). The production times of the fruit also range based on geography. From mid-May to mid-June lychees are found most productive in the Terai and the low hills, while in the hills they are harvested from the end of May to the end of June (Singh, 2002). It is also found that the lychees grow larger than in the Terai (Singh, 2002).
Singh (2002) notes, there is some preparation to the land that must be done to accommodate lychees. First, the selected piece of land must be ploughed and made weed-free. In Nepal this can be done by pit-digging which can be assisted by the district based horticulturists/agriculturists. After the pit is dug, fertilizers and manures must be added (Singh, 2002). The growing conditions for the lychee are best in warm subtropical climates, with best cropping in climates with hot humid summers and dry cool winters (Huang et al. 2005).
Lychees are not perfect and come with some agronomic issues. Firstly, damages to new leaves can be obtained when temperatures drop below 2°C and when it reaches -2°C the tree is at risk of death (Huang et al. 2005). A major issue is the production time. Trees take 3-5 years to produce fruits and will not yield abundant crops until years 7 or 8 (Singh, 2002). Some farmers may not be able to sacrifice land for such a long period of time with no immediate benefits. Once your tress are producing, regular chemical controls and tree nets must be in place to prevent losses from birds and fruit bats. Some other pests include the lychee mite, lychee bug and the fruit worm. The lychee mite is the most detrimental as they attack new shoots in the beginning of growing season. Fruit cracking is also a serious problem in the Terai region. Various problems can be resolved through mulching, irrigation, and repeated spraying (Singh, 2002).
As previously mentioned, there is some labour involved with the fruit. Weeding is needed in the early stages, which involve hand weeding and the use of mulches to keep the weeds down (Singh, 2002). This also conserves moisture in the soil. Watering the plant before the fruit blooms has shown to produce a higher quality fruit. Manure and fertilizers should be applied in January to December after a year of the initial planting and should continue yearly until substantial fruit production. In the Terai, fruit production starts in year 5-6, while on the hills production starts in years 6-8. Luckily, there have been no severe diseases found to limit the growth or yield of the fruit in Nepal. The only problem with the fruit itself is its short-shelf life. (Singh, 2002).
Lychees are globally well known and can be found throughout much of Southeast Asia, China, Europe, Africa and North America (Huang et al. 2005). Over the last 15-20 years, lychees were grown from seeds in the hills and seedlings were sold for cash or they were traded for other material (Singh, 2002). Since there is topographical variation within Nepal, factors such as height, canopy, leaf size, fruit size, seed size and fruit shape also vary immensely in the hills for seedlings (Singh, 2002).
Lychees provide many health benefits ranging from weight loss due to high dietary fibre, antioxidants, no cholesterol, and improved blood flow due to oligonol (Mak, 2012). Lychees contain an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and flavonoids which are anti-cancer properties (Selke, 2013).
Singh (2002) suggests that in Nepal, lychee farmers have options when it comes to marketing their crops. The farmers can both harvest their fruits themselves and sell them to the wholesalers or there are contractors that purchase the lychee while they’re still on the trees. In this case, the contactor then has responsibility for the trees. The fruits can then be harvested and sold to the fruit wholesaler. There is a lot of potential for export markets with the lychee, especially in Nepal. The difference in harvest times in the hills and the Terai opens up the market for a longer period of time for exporting (Singh, 2002).
There are numerous economic benefits for the Nepalese lychee farmers as production is expected to increase year by year. There are huge importing European markets with increasing markers in Saudia Arabia, Dubai and Canada (Singh, 2002). The lychee is found to be more profitable than the mango and the banana in the Terai region (Singh, 2002). As lychees become more popular around the world their economic value increases as they become more profitable. To increase the market, the availability of high quality fruits for a longer period of time must be considered. Transportation of exporting goods must also be considered. Since there is many different ways of processing the fruit, there is much potential for exportation.
There are multiple ways to improve productivity, overcome agronomic constraints and get the lychee business off the ground. Singh (2002) suggests applying organic manure, nitrogen, phosphorous and potash, which will produce higher yields. Liming every year is also a factor that will help increase productivity. Mulching and watering are important elements that should be done often. Drip irrigation is also an effective way to control water quantities and produce sustainable crops. A trick in the winter months is to cut off branches that are unproductive or blocking other branches. This will allow all the branches to easily receive sunlight (Singh, 2002).
Singh (2002) advises further research will need to be done to enhance lychee development in Nepal. Looking into smaller trees for easier harvesting, analysing genotypes of seeds in the fields, as well as micro activity in the soil are all factors needed to improve productivity and development. A few additional areas needs to be researched but regardless, lychee crops are still becoming more attractive and popular among Nepalese farmers. This is due to the stable income received from lychee fruits, especially in comparison to the mango and banana in the Terai region (Singh, 2002).
Since lychees are growing globally as a popular fruit with numerous health benefits there are plenty of market opportunities. For transportation, lychees must be stored and refrigerated (Singh, 2002). Since the lychee does have a short shelf life, refrigeration does preserve the fruit. From then it can be frozen, canned, dried or processed into juice, wine, pickles, preserves, ice cream and yogurt. This leaves ample opportunity for transportation of the good. Exporting lychee will provide a steady income to farmers especially in the Terai or hill regions of Nepal (Singh, 2002).
Like anything else in life there are uncertainties and risks that must be taken. As I believe the lychee is a product that will provide many benefits which will outweigh any risks. The numerous processing techniques, growing market, and the steady income the fruit provides, may come with some costs, but with a long-term goal, the benefits will exceed the costs.
References
Budathoki, K. (2002). Lychee Production in Nepal- Lychee Production in the Asia-Pacific Region. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 81-93.
Huang, X., Subhadrabandhu, S., Mitra, S., Ben-Arie, R., and Stern, R. (2005). Origin, history, production, and processing. Litchii and longan: botany, production and uses, 1-23.
Mak, G. "12 Health Care Benefits of Lychee, Real Food for Life." Health Benefits. N.p., 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <http://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-lychee/>.
Mintra, S. (2002). Overview of Lychee Production in the Asia- Pacfic Region- Lychee Production in the Asia-Pacific Region . Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 5-13.
N., Steps Export Procedures, and Fir. 3. NEPAL – EXPORT PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. <http://www.eec-nepal.org.np/eec/ecibon/report/212/Publication/General%20Accessment%20trade/Annex%2019.pdf=>
Selke, Lori A. "The Benefits of Lychee." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/454772-the-benefits-of-lychee/>.
"Show Foods- Litchis, Dried." Agricultural Research Service. United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. <http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2311?fg=&man=&lfacet=&count=&max=25&sort=&qlookup=lychee&offset=&format=Abridged&new=&measureby=>.
Singh, R. (2002). Welcome Address- Lychee Production in the Asia-Pacific Region. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 3.
Subramanian, Uma. "South Asia transport: issues and options." World Bank/ESCAP Regional Technical Workshop on Transport and Transit Facilitation, Bangkok, April. 1999.
Nepal is geographically divided into three parts: Terai, Hills and Mountains (Singh, 2002). Since there is such a range geographically, the temperature ranges from subtropical in the Terai, whereas the mountains face a cooler climate (Singh, 2002). This variation in climate allows a diverse range in the production of fruits including the lychee (Huang et al. 2005). The production times of the fruit also range based on geography. From mid-May to mid-June lychees are found most productive in the Terai and the low hills, while in the hills they are harvested from the end of May to the end of June (Singh, 2002). It is also found that the lychees grow larger than in the Terai (Singh, 2002).
Singh (2002) notes, there is some preparation to the land that must be done to accommodate lychees. First, the selected piece of land must be ploughed and made weed-free. In Nepal this can be done by pit-digging which can be assisted by the district based horticulturists/agriculturists. After the pit is dug, fertilizers and manures must be added (Singh, 2002). The growing conditions for the lychee are best in warm subtropical climates, with best cropping in climates with hot humid summers and dry cool winters (Huang et al. 2005).
Lychees are not perfect and come with some agronomic issues. Firstly, damages to new leaves can be obtained when temperatures drop below 2°C and when it reaches -2°C the tree is at risk of death (Huang et al. 2005). A major issue is the production time. Trees take 3-5 years to produce fruits and will not yield abundant crops until years 7 or 8 (Singh, 2002). Some farmers may not be able to sacrifice land for such a long period of time with no immediate benefits. Once your tress are producing, regular chemical controls and tree nets must be in place to prevent losses from birds and fruit bats. Some other pests include the lychee mite, lychee bug and the fruit worm. The lychee mite is the most detrimental as they attack new shoots in the beginning of growing season. Fruit cracking is also a serious problem in the Terai region. Various problems can be resolved through mulching, irrigation, and repeated spraying (Singh, 2002).
As previously mentioned, there is some labour involved with the fruit. Weeding is needed in the early stages, which involve hand weeding and the use of mulches to keep the weeds down (Singh, 2002). This also conserves moisture in the soil. Watering the plant before the fruit blooms has shown to produce a higher quality fruit. Manure and fertilizers should be applied in January to December after a year of the initial planting and should continue yearly until substantial fruit production. In the Terai, fruit production starts in year 5-6, while on the hills production starts in years 6-8. Luckily, there have been no severe diseases found to limit the growth or yield of the fruit in Nepal. The only problem with the fruit itself is its short-shelf life. (Singh, 2002).
Lychees are globally well known and can be found throughout much of Southeast Asia, China, Europe, Africa and North America (Huang et al. 2005). Over the last 15-20 years, lychees were grown from seeds in the hills and seedlings were sold for cash or they were traded for other material (Singh, 2002). Since there is topographical variation within Nepal, factors such as height, canopy, leaf size, fruit size, seed size and fruit shape also vary immensely in the hills for seedlings (Singh, 2002).
Lychees provide many health benefits ranging from weight loss due to high dietary fibre, antioxidants, no cholesterol, and improved blood flow due to oligonol (Mak, 2012). Lychees contain an excellent source of vitamins, minerals and flavonoids which are anti-cancer properties (Selke, 2013).
Singh (2002) suggests that in Nepal, lychee farmers have options when it comes to marketing their crops. The farmers can both harvest their fruits themselves and sell them to the wholesalers or there are contractors that purchase the lychee while they’re still on the trees. In this case, the contactor then has responsibility for the trees. The fruits can then be harvested and sold to the fruit wholesaler. There is a lot of potential for export markets with the lychee, especially in Nepal. The difference in harvest times in the hills and the Terai opens up the market for a longer period of time for exporting (Singh, 2002).
There are numerous economic benefits for the Nepalese lychee farmers as production is expected to increase year by year. There are huge importing European markets with increasing markers in Saudia Arabia, Dubai and Canada (Singh, 2002). The lychee is found to be more profitable than the mango and the banana in the Terai region (Singh, 2002). As lychees become more popular around the world their economic value increases as they become more profitable. To increase the market, the availability of high quality fruits for a longer period of time must be considered. Transportation of exporting goods must also be considered. Since there is many different ways of processing the fruit, there is much potential for exportation.
There are multiple ways to improve productivity, overcome agronomic constraints and get the lychee business off the ground. Singh (2002) suggests applying organic manure, nitrogen, phosphorous and potash, which will produce higher yields. Liming every year is also a factor that will help increase productivity. Mulching and watering are important elements that should be done often. Drip irrigation is also an effective way to control water quantities and produce sustainable crops. A trick in the winter months is to cut off branches that are unproductive or blocking other branches. This will allow all the branches to easily receive sunlight (Singh, 2002).
Singh (2002) advises further research will need to be done to enhance lychee development in Nepal. Looking into smaller trees for easier harvesting, analysing genotypes of seeds in the fields, as well as micro activity in the soil are all factors needed to improve productivity and development. A few additional areas needs to be researched but regardless, lychee crops are still becoming more attractive and popular among Nepalese farmers. This is due to the stable income received from lychee fruits, especially in comparison to the mango and banana in the Terai region (Singh, 2002).
Since lychees are growing globally as a popular fruit with numerous health benefits there are plenty of market opportunities. For transportation, lychees must be stored and refrigerated (Singh, 2002). Since the lychee does have a short shelf life, refrigeration does preserve the fruit. From then it can be frozen, canned, dried or processed into juice, wine, pickles, preserves, ice cream and yogurt. This leaves ample opportunity for transportation of the good. Exporting lychee will provide a steady income to farmers especially in the Terai or hill regions of Nepal (Singh, 2002).
Like anything else in life there are uncertainties and risks that must be taken. As I believe the lychee is a product that will provide many benefits which will outweigh any risks. The numerous processing techniques, growing market, and the steady income the fruit provides, may come with some costs, but with a long-term goal, the benefits will exceed the costs.
References
Budathoki, K. (2002). Lychee Production in Nepal- Lychee Production in the Asia-Pacific Region. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 81-93.
Huang, X., Subhadrabandhu, S., Mitra, S., Ben-Arie, R., and Stern, R. (2005). Origin, history, production, and processing. Litchii and longan: botany, production and uses, 1-23.
Mak, G. "12 Health Care Benefits of Lychee, Real Food for Life." Health Benefits. N.p., 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <http://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-lychee/>.
Mintra, S. (2002). Overview of Lychee Production in the Asia- Pacfic Region- Lychee Production in the Asia-Pacific Region . Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 5-13.
N., Steps Export Procedures, and Fir. 3. NEPAL – EXPORT PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. <http://www.eec-nepal.org.np/eec/ecibon/report/212/Publication/General%20Accessment%20trade/Annex%2019.pdf=>
Selke, Lori A. "The Benefits of Lychee." LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 7 Nov. 2014. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/454772-the-benefits-of-lychee/>.
"Show Foods- Litchis, Dried." Agricultural Research Service. United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2014. <http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2311?fg=&man=&lfacet=&count=&max=25&sort=&qlookup=lychee&offset=&format=Abridged&new=&measureby=>.
Singh, R. (2002). Welcome Address- Lychee Production in the Asia-Pacific Region. Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, 3.
Subramanian, Uma. "South Asia transport: issues and options." World Bank/ESCAP Regional Technical Workshop on Transport and Transit Facilitation, Bangkok, April. 1999.