Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: DTE
Context: The National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL), has successfully expanded litchi cultivation to 19 states in India.
- Litchi cultivation for commercial production has commenced in states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and others.
About Litchi:
- Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a small, oval roundish fruit that is native to Southeast Asia. It is a member of the soapberry family (Sapindaceae) and is also known as lychee or lichee.
- Litchi is a sensitive fruit, influenced by temperature, rainfall, humidity, and soil conditions.
- The fruit primarily grows in the foothills of the Himalayas, with Bihar alone contributing nearly 40% of India’s litchi production.
Litchi fruit contains a toxin, methylene cyclopropyl-glycine (MCPG), which is known to be fatal by causing encephalitis-related deaths. This is especially harmful when consumed by malnourished children
