The Covid-19 crisis, few overseas orders, and lack of demand in the domestic market have left mango growers in Uttar Pradesh grim-faced. Local markets in the state are flooded with dussehri mangoes despite a decline in production this year.

The current price of dussehri mangoes, which have earned the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, is the lowest in five years and 50 per cent cheaper than last year.

At the wholesale market of Malihabad, the mango-growing belt of UP, the price of dussehri has fallen to Rs 15-20 per kg. There is still scope of some revival as the dussehri season continues until August.

Uttar Pradesh is India’s largest mango-producing state, accounting for over 20 per cent of India’s total production. The other prominent varieties of mangoes from the state include langra, chausa, and amrapali.

Besides poor returns, mango farmers in the state and other stakeholders have suffered from crop loss, pest attacks and the supply-chain disruption because of the lockdown. “The price of dussehri dropped nearly 50 per cent this year, primarily due to the lockdown-triggered transport impediments and infestation,” said Shiv Sharan Singh, the UP president of the Mango Growers Association of India.

He said only a few local traders are turning up at the wholesale market and that the price of dussehri mangoes may fall even further if demand from Delhi, Mumbai and foreign countries remains muted.

Because of the disruption caused by the pandemic, only 10 tonnes of dussehri mangoes have been exported to Dubai this year. Traders in Malihabad had exported 120 tonnes of dussehri mangoes last year to the UAE, Oman, Qatar, and European countries.