Litchi trees flower early as temperature rises

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 11

An early rise in the temperature has led to early flowering of litchi trees in the state this year.

Litchi orchards spread over 9,721 hectares in Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts that are the main producers of the fruit.

Called ‘pride of the Doon Valley’, litchi orchards continue to be an integral part of Dehradun district. The litchi trees usually flower in March but this year, the flowering has already started taking place.

Lack of adequate winter chill and a sudden rise in temperature is being cited as the reasons behind the phenomenon. This is happening after seven years.

As per a survey, done by the State Horticulture Department, as many as 20 per cent of litchi trees in the state have already flowered.

BS Negi, Director of State Horticulture Mission, said it was after 2009 that litchi trees had flowered during January and February. Under normal circumstances, litchi trees must flower in March and April, he said.

Scientist Dr Vinod Bhatt said early flowering was a common phenomenon when there was a rise in the temperature as trees responded to weather changes. This year, there was little of winter rain and thus days were warmer, which had a direct effect on litchi trees, the scientist added.

Meanwhile, early flowering was also expected to destroy the litchi crop and affect the overall production of the fruit.