The lychee season in Madagascar has started already, and growers are confident that this year's crop will have a good quality. They'll look to capitalize on that good crop by maintaining traditional market and expanding their presence in one new market.
“These sulfur problems are now a thing of the past,” said Rakotondrahova. “Madagascar lychee meets all European Union requirements on residues, and sulfur-free treatments will allow us to go into new markets, like the United States, where fruit treated with sulfur is banned.”
Current prices across Europe for Madagascar lychee range from between 17.000 000 euro and 20 400 000 . Returns for growers could improve, noted Rakotondrahova, if the island's growers continue their efforts to reach out to new markets and improve their production techniques.
“Most important for us is to develop new markets,” said Rakotondrahova. “The potential in Madagascar is more than the capacity that can currently handle our fruit, so I'm sure Madagascar has to first develop new markets. But we also have to improve the approach to growing, because we've had problems with size of fruit, so we can improve both on size and quality."
Contact details:
Simon A. Rakotondrahova
SCRIMAD
tel 00261-20-2228386
mobile 00-261-320-780052
scrimad@scrimad.mg
http://scrimad.tranokal