Pg. 11-13 A View of Madagascar and its Litchi Industry

An illustrated description is given of litchi growing in Madagascar, including export figures to Europe, for the past six years.

Summary:

• Madagascar is a large island off the east coast of Africa with unique biodiversity and diverse cultural origins; French is widely spoken as it was a French colony for nearly 70 years.
• The climate varies across the island, with the eastern coastal plain experiencing high monsoon rainfall and being the main growing area for litchis.
• Litchi production spans approximately 600 km of the eastern coastline, including key areas like Tamatave (Toamasina), Sambava, and Mananjary; Tamatave is the major port for export.
• Litchi trees are grown mostly in small plots (10-20 trees), often without nurseries, with many trees 20 to 30 years old and the cultivar generally described as Litchi chinensis.
• Export volumes to Europe grew rapidly between 1986 and 1990, with sea exports starting in 1988-89 from Tamatave; export figures ranged in some estimates from 30,000 to 50,000 tonnes of fruit, though logistical limitations might cap exports near 10,000 tonnes.
• Litchi fruit is brought to Tamatave by numerous growers and agents; fruit is sulphured using traditional methods before packaging, often in unventilated cartons imported or manufactured locally.
• Exporters formed an association to coordinate exports, agreeing on weekly shipments with about 100 containers per vessel; main shipping lines include CGM, Capricorn, and Nan Tai.
• Air-freight is considered too expensive for large volumes, with most fruit transported by sea, often routed via the Cape or Suez.
• The 1990 season showed healthy flowering and expected good yields, though the region is prone to monsoon storms that sometimes impact crops.
• Export markets mainly include France, with major importers like Pomona, Helfer, Azoulay, Companie Frutire, and Anarex.
• Infrastructure challenges include poor road quality linking production areas to ports and limited coastal transportation mostly reliant on small ferries.
• Litchi trees appear to vary slightly from common cultivars known in other regions, with better external color noted on fruit marketed in Paris.
• The industry is characterized by traditional farming practices, limited nursery infrastructure, and diverse genetic material spread across many smallholder producers.