In Guangdong province, a key litchi production area, the forecasted litchi output for this year is 876,400 metric tons, marking a 51 percent decrease from the previous year. This reduction has led to increased litchi prices in the western regions of Guangdong, with Maoming city experiencing price surges ranging from 30 percent to over 100 percent compared to last year.
Nationally, litchi production is expected to reach 1.78 million tons, a 42.5 percent decline from the prior year. The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and Hainan province are also anticipating significant drops in litchi production, by 59 percent and 15 percent respectively, due to a warm winter affecting flowering and extreme weather conditions impacting the harvest.
Chen Houbin, a chief scientist and researcher at South China Agricultural University, highlighted the challenges faced by the litchi industry, including the need for technological advancements and targeted agricultural practices to improve production. The recent establishment of the Litchi Meteorological Service Center by the Guangdong Meteorological Service and Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs aims to provide specialized support to litchi growers. Efforts to stabilize the market and enhance litchi sales are being made through various strategies, including e-commerce expansion and the adoption of modern agricultural techniques.
Source: asianews.network