Guangdong is the largest lychee production area in China. Since April, Guangdong has experienced the strongest rainfall process on record. Entering May, lychee is entering its fruiting and listing period, and many consumers are worried that the previous rainfall may lead to a decrease in lychee production and an increase in price. The reporter inquired about the situation from relevant production areas and departments in Guangdong. Under the influence of multiple factors, the reduction of lychee production in Guangdong Province has become a foregone conclusion. In Dongguan, the main production area of high-end lychee, it is currently in the period of lychee fruiting. The relevant person in charge of Dongguan Agriculture and Rural Bureau told reporters that due to multiple factors such as abnormal weather in winter last year and spring this year, lychee size, and heavy rainfall, the overall flowering and fruiting situation of lychee in Dongguan is not ideal, and the degree of impact varies greatly among different varieties. Among them, varieties such as Guanyin Green and Feizixiao are relatively good, with a flowering rate of 50% to 70%; The flowering rate of varieties such as Bingli and Lingfengnuo is average, while the flowering rate of varieties such as Nuomi Ci and Guiwei is relatively poor. Zhao Jiqing, the president of Dongguan Lychee Association, said, "Currently, the lychee fruit hanging rate in the city is about 20% of last year, which can be said to be a new low in the same period of the past 10 years." The lychee production in Foshan has also significantly decreased. Technicians from Hongji Farm Orchard in Foshan stated that due to heavy rain and hail during the lychee flowering season, as well as the fact that this year is a small lychee year, the farm is estimated to have reduced production by more than half. In order to minimize the impact of extreme weather, agricultural and rural departments across Guangdong have taken early action to increase lychee production and stabilize the lychee market through multiple measures. In April, after the strong thunderstorm warning was issued, the agricultural and rural departments in Dongguan immediately notified Li farmers in various ways and provided scientific guidance on how to strengthen flowers and preserve fruits during thunderstorm weather. At the same time, various methods such as continuously holding training courses, organizing "light cavalry" on-site guidance, and issuing technical points are used to guide fruit farmers in coping with rainwater. According to the different growth stages of lychee, technical measures such as bee pollination and fruit preservation and strengthening are adopted to improve lychee harvest. After the lychee is gradually launched, a lychee culture festival will be held to promote and coordinate production and sales of Dongguan lychee, expand the influence of the "Guanli" brand, and reduce losses for lychee farmers. Before and after the Loong Boat Festival, a large number of lychees are on the market. Industry insiders predict that the price will inevitably rise under the production reduction. Some popular varieties of lychees in previous years may be hard to find this year. The ice lychee planted by Wang Shilan, a skilled lychee grower in Houjie Town, Dongguan, has an excellent taste. Due to the low fruit failure rate this year, many old customers cannot book it. Zhao Jiqing estimates that the prices of major lychee varieties in Dongguan may double, with Feizixiao, which has a smaller reduction in production, expected to rise to 20 yuan/jin, and glutinous rice cakes expected to rise to 50 yuan/jin to 60 yuan/jin. Although there is a high possibility of lychee price increases this year, the emergence of an agricultural "black technology" has shown consumers the possibility of "lychee freedom" in the future. Recently, Liang Qinru, a member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology, led a team to launch the "Guangdong Voice Hotline" program, carrying a basket of "frozen sleeping" lychees on stage to "bring goods". It is reported that this basket of lychees picked last year has been frozen for 10 months with the help of ultra-low temperature freezing and locking technology. Even after thawing, it can still maintain a bright red color like fresh lychee, with crystal clear flesh and over 90% of its nutritional quality preserved. Nowadays, not only can lychees be stored for a long time, but the storage cost is also very low, "said Hu Shengchun, director of the Agriculture and Rural Department of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology. More than 200 tons of" frozen sleep "lychees stored last year have gradually been introduced to the market this year and are selling well on e-commerce platforms such as Hema and JD.com. Currently, they are basically sold out. In fact, this "black technology" for lychee preservation was already unveiled at the Industrial Technology Integration Development Achievement Exhibition held during the Guangdong Province High Quality Development Conference at the beginning of this year, and has shown huge market prospects in northern China. Last year during the lychee season, Guangdong launched the "Science and Technology Assistance for Lychee Preservation, Income Increase and Benefit the People Action", organizing advantageous scientific research institutions in the province to carry out technological breakthroughs, breaking through the technology of lychee ultra-low temperature freezing and locking freshness, and extending the lychee preservation period to one year. The Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs actively promote the industrial application of this technology, supporting the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, South China Agricultural University, and related enterprises to establish two "frozen sleep" lychee production lines with an annual production capacity of 1000 tons in Guangzhou, covering multiple lychee varieties. It is reported that "frozen sleep" lychee has been warmly welcomed by consumers in Northeast, North, East China and other places, and the market is in short supply. Litchi, as a seasonal concentrated fruit on the market, has always been affected not only by weather disasters, but also by the problem of "color changing in one day and taste changing in three days" in terms of preservation. Encountering a small year, prices rise; During the Chinese New Year, there may be a situation where 'low fruit prices harm farmers', which affects the enthusiasm of Li farmers for planting the following year. A stable lychee price depends on a stable market supply. In fact, with the advancement of agricultural technology, high yields and bountiful harvests of lychee have become the norm, and years with sharply reduced yields are not common. From 2019 to 2023, Guangdong lychee achieved "five consecutive harvests". Next, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology will further strengthen the promotion and application of the "frozen sleep" lychee technology, striving to preserve 2000 tons of lychee with new technology this year, while promoting deep processing of lychee and extending the industrial chain. It can be imagined that "eating lychee all year round" and "eating lychee from all over the world" are expected to be realized in the near future. (New Society)