Gales damage mango orchards

Vizianagaram: Gales and heavy downpour accompanied by thunderstorms damaged the banana and mango orchards in Gajapathinagaram, Bondapalli, Denkada, Bhogapuram, Pusapatirega and some other mandals in the district. 

Actually, the mango crop was affected by the pests this season and even the unfavourable atmospheric conditions also minimised the yield. As a result, the price of branded mango shot up. A tonne of  Banginapall is being sold at Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000.

The farmers, who have some crop in their orchards, are expecting good income as they have high demand. But the gales on Tuesday dashed the hopes of the farmers.

The banana plantations in Parvathipuram, S Kota and L Kota area were damaged due to gales. Now, the farmers  are dumping the trees, along with the bunches, as can't sell the fruits in the market .

P Lakshmi Narayana, deputy director of horticulture, said: “With unexpected gales  pushed  the mango crop from bad to worst.   This is a major damage to the farmers”.