The Thailand Research Fund (TRF) has been organized and has provided funds to about 6 research projects in lychee since 1996. Chiang Rai Horticultural Research Centre is authorized by Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, to handle all the lychee projects under their guidance. Several academic institutes such as Chiang Mai University, Kasetsart University, etc. have also carried out their own research. However, the present economic circumstance coinciding with ‘longan mania’ has resulted in sluggish lychee production development.