Alphonso lovers will have to wait longer for the king

PUNE: Puneites have to wait for a little longer to relish mangoes this year as the supply of mangoes has yet not started at the Market Yard, except a few boxes that arrived a week ago. However, the Alphonso (Hapus) growers from Konkan mentioned that the extended rainfall delayed the flowering and thus, the fruit will arrive only by March-end. Growers also mentioned that extended rainfall and absence of winter resulted in less production.

Head of Fruit Section and Vice Chairman of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Aadte Association Yuvraj Kanchi, a wholesale trader from Ratnagiri, said that there was merely a supply of one or two per cent in the market. He said, “There was not more than two per cent supply in the market as compared to the previous years. The supply of Alphonso will start only after March 20.”

“As the supply of Alphonso will start in March end and by April, all other varieties of mangoes from the southern state also start coming in the market, the farmers will fail to get premium rates which they usually get every year. Also, the heat conditions during that time might create a problem for the mangoes,” added Kanchi.

Secretary, of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard Aadte Association Rohan Ursal, said, “There is hardly any supply of mangoes except a few boxes that arrived a week ago. Generally, the supply of mangoes starts in February but this year because of delay the supply will start only by March-end.”

As reported by Sakal Times in November last year that prolonged rainfall has delayed the flowering thus delaying the arrival of Alphonsos in the market. However, the prolonged rainfall and lack of winter not only delayed the supply but also affected the production.

Uday Joshi of Kelshi Parisar Amba Utpadak Sangh, Dapoli, Ratnagiri District, said, “This year, the season of Ratnagiri hapus is delayed for a month. Normally the season starts in February but this time only two-three boxes have gone. The extended rainfall has delayed the flowering and also increased the vegetative growth of the trees. Due to more vegetative growth, the flowering is less, the overall production got affected by more than 50 per cent.”

Chairman, of Konkan Hapus Amba Utpadak Ani Vikrate Sangh Vivek Bhide too said that the extended rainfall, vegetative growth of the trees and very less reproductive growth in a plant has impacted the crop by 50 per cent.

Chairman of Devgad Taluka Mango Growers Cooperative Society Ajit Gogate said, “It is likely that Devgad season will start by March-end. However, the growers who used to get premium rates in the February and March will not be able to get this year as the season of all varieties of mangoes will hit the market at almost the same time.”