Mango growers stare at bitter harvest

Tirupati: Even at the end of April, mangoes have not hit the market this year disappointing its lovers in a big way. Normally, by mid-April, the King of Fruits make its debut in the markets and by the second week of May large quantities start flooding.

But, this time, mango growers were a worried lot with huge crop loss thereby incurring huge loses. Due to heavy rains in both kharif and rabi, last year the crop was affected at the flowering stage due to heavy moisture combined with fog. Flowering started only after February 15, said horticulture scientist at RASS Krishi Vignan Kendra PS Sudhakar.

Even at the flowering stage it rained again making further loss of flower. Due to heavy moisture and fog, diseases affected trees and resulting in negative impact on pollination.

To add to the woes, Sudhakar added that, due to late flowering, fruit drop occurred in starting stage itself. “From peanut stage to marble stage fruit drop has been witnessed significantly,” he averred. Apart from these weather conditions, the indiscriminate use of synthetic pyrethroides also resulted in poor pollination and affected the mango crop.

overall, it was estimated that mango growers have suffered crop loss to the tune of at least 70 per cent and they may get only 30 per cent of the crop. Sudhakar said, for every hectare 10 tonnes of yield are expected normally but this time growers have to contend with three tonnes only.

Supporting this a mango grower and trader at Damalachervu mango market, K Nageswara Rao has said the premium varieties like Benisha, Alphonso, Imam Pasand may come 20 to 30 per cent than their normal yield whereas Thotapuri variety may give 60-70 per cent yield.

“Normally our markets will get full arrivals by May 15 and whatever the stocks available in April usually come from coastal districts. Even those imports have come down this year. By this time, Damalacheruvu Mango Nagar must be seen with full of activity every year whereas now it wore a deserted look. It was clear that Benisha, Alphonso and other varieties will not be available like previous years,” he opined.

In Chittoor district, Totapuri variety has been famous which most growers have. The reason being that there are 50-60 pulp industries which take huge quantities of Totapuri fruits with which the farmers will get their returns.

But, that yield has also disappointed the growers significantly, he explained. Saying that, all these factors may take the price to higher levels, he opined that it may not go too high as people will not prefer to buy if it becomes out of their reach.

In mango market, Benisha may cost Rs 30-40 a kg as against its normal price of Rs 15-20 which may be sold at around Rs 70 a kg in local markets. “This price rise will not bring cheers to the farmers as there was huge crop loss,” he maintained.

By V Pradeep Kumar