The National Research Centre for Litchi, Muzaffarpur, is going digital.

The centre has decided make its bulletins and journals — which provide tips to litchi growers for good harvest — available online. 

The documents are published every month in English and Hindi. The print editions were previously kept with the centre and interested farmers could get a copy of the bulletin upon visiting the centre. From March, the print editions will be circulated among farmers across the state and outside free of cost. The centre conducts research to develop different varieties of litchi. 

With the documents going online, farmers will find easier access to them. They don’t have to go to the centre every time they need farming advice.

“The farmers can learn new farming techniques from home,” said Kuldip Srivastava, senior entomologist at the horticulture wing of the centre. “The scientists at the centre have been asked to document minute details from planting trees to the marketing strategies of the fruit. A plan to bring out a special edition of bulletins at the time of flowering is underway. This will help farmers save litchis from pests.” 

Farmers from Kerala, Gujarat and other places usually visit Muzaffarpur twice a year for tips on scientific modes of cultivation and interact with litchi farmers in the district.

Principal scientist at the centre, Rajesh Kumar, said he had visited Gujarat and Kerala to motivate farmers who were interested in litchi cultivation. “They (the farmers) had planted a huge number of trees in orchards provided to them. The centre is on the mission to popularise the new varieties of litchi on sandy soil. A number of old trees in Gujarat have been rejuvenated under my supervision,” he said.