Litchi(Litchi chinensis Sonn) is an important summer fruit crop of India. It is consumed both fresh as well as processed to make jams, jellies and squashes. India's litchi production is concentrated around Muzaffarpur in north Bihar. The main varieties are Shahi, China, Longina, and Madras. Today, Indian exports of fresh litchi remain quite small, although they are expected to expand. Product for export is typically packed in 2-kilogram cartons, while domestic product is often marketed in either 15- to 18-kilogram baskets or 15- to 20-kilogram cases. At present, India is the second largest producer of litchi in the world after China.   Area Of Production Litchi is grown extensively in northern Bihar, in the sub-montane districts of western Uttar Pradesh and in Punjab. Bihar ranks first with 77 per cent share in production. Area under litchi is confined to Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga districts in Bihar. West Bengal, Assam and Uttar Pradesh contribute around 15 percent. Dehradun, Ramnagar, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur are the main litchi producing districts in Uttar Pradesh.

The country's main production season occurs in May and June, with smaller amounts of litchi available from farms around Dehra Dun in northern Uttar Pradesh from mid-July to mid-August. Hot dry winds in summer, when the fruit is ripening, are very undesirable.

It grows well in sandy and clayey loams containing large quantities of lime.

Although about 100 varieties of litchi are identified the worldover, only 15 of them are reported to be commercially cultivated in India. In Bihar, the recommended varieties include the `China, `Purbi’, `Deshi’, `Bedana’ and `Dehra Rose’; in Uttar Pradesh, `Rose-scented’, `Early Large Red’, `Kalkatia’, `Gulabi’ and `Late Seedless’, and in West Bengal, `China’ and `Muzaffarpur’.

Air-layering is the commonest method. Inarching, budding and grafting are also possible. One-year-old layers are planted nine metres apart in pits during the rainy season.

As the fruit is borne on the growth of the previous year, the common practice of breaking off a metre or so of a branch along with the bunch of fruits is all the pruning that is necessary.

It is advisable to protect young trees against frost with a thatch and against hot and dry winds by growing wind-breaks. Remove weeds from time to time and irrigate from January onwards until the fruits mature. In addition to bulky organic manures, a complete fertilizer mixture should be given to supply N. P. and K and Ca in the case of soils deficient in lime.

Fruit bunches are broken from the tree by hand. A mature tree produces about 110 kg of fruit each year.