Bihar is expecting a bumper Shahi (royal) litchi crop this year - at least 20 percent more compared to last year.
It's good news for lovers of this sweet and juicy summer fruit.
"Thanks to favourable temperature, we expect more litchi this time," said Vishal Nath, director of the Muzaffarpur-based National Research Centre for Litchi (NRCL).
Nath said the yield of litchis would improve with warmer weather in the coming days. "The next two weeks are important," he added.
According to him, there is a good litchi crop in most parts of northern Bihar including Muzaffarpur which accounts for more than 62 percent of the country's litchi production.
"Litchi farmers are expecting good earnings this year due to a bumper crop," he said.