BANGKOK, May 23 — Fruit production in Thailand’s northern provinces has been severely affected by the fluctuating weather conditions, particularly the yield of longan and lychee.
The Office of Agricultural Economics estimates the lychee production in the four northern provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao, Chiang Mai and Nan will be some 48,000 tonnes, 16 per cent or 9,600 tonnes less than last year’s harvest.
The expected decline in production is due to the weather that was not continuously cold and there was also rain that could affect production.
Meanwhile, the quality was not of premium grade due to the current drought.
The lychee will be ready to market in late May or June, a one-month delay from the previous year as a result of the weather condition.
As for the longan in eight northern provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Mai, Tak, Prae and Nan, total production is expected to be about 590,000 tonnes, 12,000 tonnes or two per cent lower than last year.
The fluctuating weather, with rain and cold as well as summer storms and hail, was the major factor reducing the longan crop.
This year the longan will be ready for sale around July.
