The central province of Manica will export 400 tons of organic lychees to the European market this year, to be supplied by agricultural multinationals and family businesses, a government source said yesterday.

This year's exports represent an increase of 40 tons compared to last year, for a market that needs 6,000 more tons of fruit, said the governor of Manica, Francisca Tomás, stressing the need to boost the family sector, which contributes a considerable part of production.

"We're continuing with the challenge of giving Manica province the status of one of the biggest producers and exporters of lychee," she said, quoted by Lusa, at the launch of the fruit marketing campaign in Sussundenga.

Francisca Tomás said that some multinationals in the agricultural chain are promoting the production of seedlings for small quantities and reinforcing technical assistance, through state extension workers, in order to obtain greater quantities and qualities of fruit in the coming years.

She also challenged partner companies and agricultural research institutions to introduce new varieties and expand production to districts with favorable agro-ecological conditions.

Production is currently concentrated in the districts of Manica, Sussundenga and Bárue, while there are regions with a cool climate and untapped production potential, such as Macate, Gondola and Mossurize, he said.

In 2010, the government, through the Institute for Export Promotion (IPEX), signed an agreement with the CBI, an organization that supports the promotion of imports from developing countries to Europe, based in the Netherlands, to place fruit and other products in Europe.