Mangoes likely to turn sour for growers this year

Deficit rainfall coupled with other factors like pest attack likely to have an impact on mango yield this year.

The district registered a low rainfall in October and November and there was a rise in temperatures during February. In addition to this, the presence of sucking pests and subsequent fungal attacks added to the woes of mango growers. As a result, the horticulture officials foresee a 40% drop in the mango production in the district. “The mango production is expected between 7-8 tonnes per hectare, stretching up to 17,000 hectares grown in Visakhapatnam district whereas the output was 11 tonnes per hectare in the district last summer,” says K. Sailaja, Assistant Director of Horticulture Department.

‘No hopes’

Mentioning that Suvarna Rekha and Banginapalli varieties alone form a 40% of the total area of the mango growing region in the district, Ms. Sailaja added that the entire mango production will not be lost as some of the varieties like Collector and Neelam are expected to fetch better yield. Mango growers in K. Kotapadu, Payakaraopeta, Ravikamatham, Kasimkota, Nakkapalli, Kotavurutla, Narsipatnam, Padmanabham, S. Rayavaram and parts of Cheedikada mandal find the going tough. Bandari Arjuna, a mango grower at Adduru village, Chodavaram mandal, is not pinning any hopes on the seasonal crop. “Unlike the previous year’s production, where the mango harvest resulted in a business of nearly ₹3 lakh, the yield is not so encouraging this time,” says the tenant farmer, who cultivated Banginapalli, Suvarna Rekha and Collector varieties on 1.5 acres of leased land.

Elaborating on the poor arrivals of mangoes, Estate Officer of Marripalem Rythu Bazaar G. Prasad says, “Last summer, the Panukulu variety of mangoes started trickling in the market little early. However, matured and quality mangoes are likely to find a place in the markets from May.”

Although the much-awaited mangoes will arrive a little late, consumers should be prepared to shell out more from their pockets as the demand is in all likelihood exceed the supply.