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
April 19, 2024 | The Financial Express | Severe drought and intense heat in Pabna's Ishwardi upazila are causing litchi and mango pods to fall off trees, jeopardizing the expected yield. Despite r
April 22, 2024 | bdnews24.com | In Rajshahi, Bangladesh's mango hub, a severe heatwave is threatening the upcoming harvest as trees lose 20% of fruits due to extreme temperatures. The Rajshahi Fru
September 20, 2024 | The Sun | At the National Harumanis Mango Conference 2024, Agriculture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu stressed the need for prioritizing research and development to enhance the
July 31, 2024 | SUR in English | Subtropical crop growers in Granada's Costa Tropical are facing their worst harvest season yet, marking the sixth consecutive year of severe agricultural losses du
May 05, 2024 | Taipei Times | Amid a scorching heat wave in Southeast Asia, durian farmers in Thailand are grappling with reduced yields and soaring costs, posing a threat to the lucrative industry. W