Lychee business nosedives as AES claims more lives

Bihar attributes to 45 per cent lychees production in India but after an increase in the death toll due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), there has been a sharp decline in the sales of lychees in the state. While the lychees are exported to other countries, the sudden fall in the demand has elevated the concerns of the farmers.

Motihari: With the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) claiming nearly 180 lives in Bihar, there has been a sharp decline in the sale of lychees across the state. While an article published in a major medical UK journal 'The Lancet', held lychees responsible for the outbreak, the sales of the seasonal fruit have gone down drastically, hitting the business community.

Incidentally, Bihar attributes to 45 per cent of lychees produced in India. The East Champaran area in Bihar produces the major share of the total production. However, due to the outbreak of AES, lychee farmers who export their products are incurring huge losses.

While doctors claimed that lychees are not responsible for AES, the business still remains affected. Citing a reason behind it, the doctors had earlier said that lychees are consumed by children from both rich and poor section of the society.

"However, it is only the children from the economically weaker section who are falling ill," claimed the doctors.

While AES has been claiming lives since the last 15 years, farmers believe that lychees have several benefits. While the lychees are exported to other countries, the sudden fall in the demand has elevated the concerns of the farmers.

Traders alleged that to escape from being accountable, the government passed on the entire blame to lychees, thereby, hampering their business. They also alleged that holding lychee responsible was the government's move to escape itself from the implementation of Food Security Act.