Tuesday, 04 JUNE 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Litchi contractors have raised their concern regarding the damage to the litchi crop in Dehradun due to untimely rain. They stated that in mid-May, the litchi crop suffered damage from both the heat wave and insufficient rain. Although the recent rainfall has been beneficial for many residents in Dehradun, it has had a negative impact on the litchi crop, the litchi contractors said.
Notably, litchi cultivation in Dehradun has been declining for years due to factors like urbanisation and diminishing orchards. This year, the combination of heat wave conditions and untimely rainfall has caused damage to about 60 per cent to the litchi crop, the contractors claim.
A litchi contractor Dharmendra Prajapati said that approximately 30 per cent of the litchi crop from his orchard had been destroyed by the end of May due to the heat wave condition and insufficient rainfall. However, he noted that the recent untimely rainfall has resulted in nearly 60 per cent of the litchi crop from his orchard being damaged. He said that a decrease in the availability of litchi in the market, particularly in smaller sizes, is expected this year. The small size of litchis this year has been caused by the rise in temperature, he added.
Prajapati further emphasised that for better litchi crops, it is crucial to have rainfall occurring every eight days when the litchi crop is being cultivated.
Another litchi contractor Deepak Kumar expressed concern about 60 per cent of the litchi crop in his orchard being damaged due to untimely rainfall. He emphasised the importance of having no rainfall within 15 days before the litchi ripening for a proper yield. Kumar said that this year, the availability of the litchi will be limited due to the damage, leading to higher prices for the fruit.
“I have suffered a significant loss of 60 to 70 per cent in the litchi crop this year due to a combination of a heat wave condition and untimely rainfall. Timely rainfall is crucial for the optimal ripening of litchi. However, the recent rainfall occurred at an inopportune time when the litchi crop had already ripened partially, leading to extensive damage,” another litchi contractor Raju Verma said.
