Madagascar's lychee growers in crisis as production plummets
November 17, 2024 | Port Calls |
Madagascar's lychee harvest has begun, with four refrigerated ships headed to the eastern coast to collect the fruit for the European market. However, industry leaders in Tamatave are concerned about a significant crop decline due to unusually early ripening. The early ripening is attributed to several factors, including exceptionally high rainfall (2,500 millimeters) earlier in the year, which disrupted plant growth and caused early flowering. Additionally, the trees struggled to receive the necessary "climate shock" of cooler temperatures, which is essential for fruit development. The trees, being old, are less responsive to climate shifts. To manage the shortfall, solutions are being explored, such as extending the harvest period by sourcing lychees from more remote areas. However, logistical constraints, including longer loading times for ships, pose challenges. Though Madagascar's lychee industry has discussed extending loading periods for years, the change has not yet been implemented. As unpredictable weather patterns continue to impact agriculture, sustainable solutions are becoming increasingly urgent for the industry.
Read more
Viewed Articles
November 17, 2024 | Port Calls | Madagascar's lychee harvest has begun, with four refrigerated ships headed to the eastern coast to collect the fruit for the European market. However, industry lea
Read More
May 04, 2025 | Times of India | Coconut prices in Goa have surged sharply this summer, with mature coconuts selling at Rs 45–50 each in retail markets—nearly double the usual price. Wholesale rates ha
June 06, 2025 | Morocco World News | Morocco has emerged as a major global avocado exporter, surpassing the 100,000-ton export mark for the first time. This milestone signals the country’s growing inf
April 17, 2026 | Times of India|Mango growers in Goa are facing a challenging season due to unusual fruit spotting and reduced yields, largely caused by environmental stress. Experts attribute the sym
November 18, 2025 | Jamaica Information Service | The devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, Jamaicans can still purchase coconut water from the Coconut Industry Board (CIB) in Kingston. CIB Chief E
December 08, 2025 | VnExpress | Severe flooding in central Lam Dong province devastated off-season dragon fruit orchards after heavy rains and reservoir discharges caused water levels to rise rapidly.
