Monday, 27 MAY 2024 | MANSI BHAMBRI | DEHRADUN
Dehradun’s famous litchi has been on the wane for some years due to factors like urbanisation and dwindling orchards. Now the summer heat and dry conditions are also posing the risk of damage to the crop. The litchi contractors in Dehradun are concerned about the effects of the high temperatures on the harvest. They believe that the fruits will be damaged and they will sustain considerable losses if it doesn’t rain soon. If the lack of rain persists until the end of May, it is predicted that 50 to 60 per cent of the litchi crop will be damaged.
A litchi contractor in the city’s Dalanwala area Dharmendra Prajapati expressed concern regarding the damage to litchi caused by rising temperatures with the city witnessing temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius for more than a week. He reported that about 20 to 30 per cent of litchis on his orchard have been affected by the dry conditions resulting from the high temperatures. He said that if such conditions persist for over a week without rain, the damage to the litchi crop could increase to 50 to 60 per cent. Prajapati emphasised that this situation not only poses financial repercussions for them but also threatens to create a shortage of litchis in the Dehradun market in the near future.
“About 30 per cent of the litchis on my orchard have been damaged already. If the temperature remains the same and there is no rainfall in the city by the end of May, it is expected that more than 50 per cent of the fruits will be damaged,” another litchi contractor Deepak Kumar said.
He further emphasised that the damaged litchi crop will lead to a shortage of litchis, which will result in fruit sellers selling them at higher prices in the market.
Another litchi contractor Raju Verma expressed deep concern regarding the damage to the litchi crop due to the rising temperatures. He emphasised the necessity of good rainfall in the city to prevent further damage to the litchi crop in his orchard.
