Mangoes turn sour this season

Vijayawada: Mango lovers are facing bitter experience in the current mango season due to non-availability of quality fruits in the city markets. Though Krishna district is top in mango produce in the country after Uttar Pradesh but the situation is contrary to records at grassroots level.

The mango orchards spread over 65,000 hectares in Krishna district alone. It is the second largest mango crop cultivated area in the country. Krishna district’s Banginapalli variety fruit is famous in the country. The farmers of Nuzvid area in the district are producing the Banginapalli variety mangoes for the past several decades. The fruit variety has a huge demand in the international market.

The citizens also prefer to buy Banginapalli and chinarasalu variety. But the both the varieties are available at Rs 500 per dozen at various centres in the city. S Sundar, a resident of Siddharthanagar, said that he spent higher amount for mangoes but the taste is not good. Speaking to The Hans India, he said that the fruits are not tasty this season. Some fruits have insects inside, he pointed out. Several people are facing similar experiences.

On the other hand, mango production has gone down to thirty per cent. The unfavourable weather conditions hit the mango production in the current season. Krishna District Horticulture Department assistant director (Nuzvid) K Ajay Babu said the farmers should follow best practices in the cultivation so that they would get quality fruits.

By Patibandla Srinivas