We are pleased to invite you to attend the 5th International Symposium on Lychee, Longan and Other Sapindaceae Fruits that will take place in Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India, May 31- June 3, 2016, in collaboration with International Society of Horticultural Sciences, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, India,National Horticulture Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India and The Bihar Horticultural Society, India .

Lychee is one of the important fruits in the world with several exotic qualities and specific climatic requirement. India is the second largest lychee producing country in the world having an annual average production of 585 thousand metric tonne in 84 thousand hectare area. Bihar is the leading state producing about 40% of the total production in India.
However, the low yield and early postharvest decay limit its availability for a longer period. In addition to climatic exactness, lacking suitable cultivars for different agro-climatic conditions is another problem. Furthermore, improving fruit quality is a major concern for lychee growing countries including India for domestic and export markets. 

The perishable nature and occurrence of pericarp browning within a short time after harvesting result in poor market price. Hence, experts/speakers with interesting topics of thematic areas will be presenting the state-of-art reports and future strategies. Besides, a symposium tour will take the delegates to nearby lychee orchards to familiarize them to genetic variability present in the crop as well as the production technology adapted in this region.
We believe that this symposium will be a platform for discussion among delegates from different parts of the world to enhance the quality lychee production across the world. A post symposium tour to Bodh Gaya and other tourist places will also be organised for interested participants. The organizers cordially invite everyone across the world who is involved in research, production, processing, trade, extension and policy making in the related fields.