Lychee Production in Nepal

Lychee is one of the important sub-tropical fruit crops of Nepal after mango, banana and guava. It was introduced by the Rana who ruled the country for 104 years. It is reported that the Rana were very fond of fruit farming and gardening and introduced lychee from India and Burma and planted them in the Terai (Plain), low hills and mid-hills at altitudes ranging from 61 m in the Terai to 950 m in the mid-hills. Although lychee plants were planted and tried at Kathmandu (1,344) by the Rana in their palaces, the plants died due to cold weather and frost.

Present Situation of Lychee Cultivation

Geographically, Nepal is divided into three physical parts. These are the Terai, Hills and Mountains, the altitude of which ranges from 60 m above mean sea level in the Terai to 8,845 m in the Mountains. Because of these variations in the, Nepal enjoys a sub-tropical climate in the Terai and a cool temperate climate in the Mountains, which are suitable for farming various kinds of fruits. Farming is limited within 3,000 m altitude. Nepal has 75 districts and it has been recorded that lychee is cultivated in 62 out of these and they are distributed as follows:

· Mountain Districts =6 · Hill Districts =36 · Terai Districts =20 Total =62