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The leechi may soon be seen in a new avatar as two private companies are keen to use the fruit - that grows in abundance in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district - to produce wine.

Last year ICAR director Mangala Ram had impressed upon Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar that the state could increase its revenue by using the 'shahi leechi' variety of the fruit, largely grown in Muzaffarpur, for making wine.

Impressed by the proposal, the state government decided to set up plants in Muzaffarpur for this purpose.

Wine from the fruit would help leechi farmers as they would not be forced to sell leechis at throwaway prices.

About 70% of India's leechis are grown in and around Muzaffarpur and the number of farmers cultivating it has grown in the last decade. The numbers may soon hit a new 'high'!

Luscious Lichees are soon likely to be available all through the year. This fruit, which arrived in India from China via Myanmar in the 18th century, is presently harvested in May and June only and is grown mainly in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Scientists in the Lichee Research Institute, Muzaffarpur, have developed new varieties that can be planted in various agro-climatic zones and harvested in different months. Plants of Longan, the variety that can be harvested in August, have already been supplied by the institute to farmers. This light brown coloured Lichee will begin to bear fruits in just three years. Work on a January harvesting variety is also on.

If these efforts bear “Lichee”, not only will we enjoy it in all seasons, India may well overtake China to become the largest producer in Asia.