Sizzling heat and absence of rains has hit hard the production of litchis in the district, known for its juicy and seedless variety of the fruit. "Due to no rain in most areas of Uttarakhand, the trees have not bore fruits and the litchi production has decreased by nearly 25 per cent, horticulture expert Amar Singh said. The market price of the fruit has also increased due to a slump in its production. "The low production has incurred huge losses to the producers of the fruit. At present, a total of 3,500 hectare area is used for the production of litchi, which has been affected by the change in weather," producer of the fruit in Vikasnagar Kirti Singh said. Another producer Ramkishan Chauhan said that instead of the Dehraduni litchi, the fruit is imported from outside markets and sold but it lacks the taste and sweetness of the litchi produced here.