(a) the details of production of lichis in various areas States during the last two years;
(b) the total hectares of land under cultivation in the country; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to encourage production and export of lichis in view of
the challenge posed by the WTO?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a): The State-wise available information on production of litchi during the last two years is
given in Annexure-I.
(b): The total area under cultivation of litchi in the country is 53600 hectares (2000-01).
(c): The Government is providing support for development of fruits including litchis under the
Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Macro Management in Agriculture –
Supplementation/Complementation of State Efforts through Work Plans. Under this, the State
Governments have been given the freedom to take up programmes as per their felt needs and
priority.
The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
under the Ministry of Commerce is providing financial assistance to individuals/exporters for
various activities like setting up Infrastructure Facilities, Packaging Development, Human Resource
Development, Export Promotion, Market Development and Quality Control for promoting export of
fruits including litchi. Besides, APEDA with the involvement of the State Governments have
sanctioned three Agri Export Zones for the States of Uttranchal, West Bengal and Bihar for giving
focused attention on area based programme for export promotion of litchi.
ANNEXURE-I
STATE-WISE PRODUCTION OF LITCHIS IN INDIA
PRODUCTION (in 000` MT)
STATES 1999-2000 2000-01
Assam 17.1 18.4 Bihar 316.5 303.3 Jharkhand - 5.0 Orissa 6.0 8.2 Punjab 11.1 11.5 Tripura 26.6 8.9 Uttranchal 12.9 8.8 West Bengal 37.6 42.0 Others 5.4 5.9
Total 433.2 412.0