Wholesalers exploit the situation

Margao: Agriculture director Nevil Alphonso on Friday said the unprecedented rise in temperature in March for a week has affected pollination of mango blossoms, which has delayed their arrival in the market and could dent the yield.

Almost half of the mango season has passed by. But Goa’s famous Mankurad variety has not made its presence in the market.

Traditionally, there has been a strong demand for mangoes. But the supply of the fruit is less this time. Consequently the state markets have a surfeit of ‘chemically’ ripened mangoes from neighbouring states, it has been claimed.

To make the most of the situation, a few wholesalers are selling the Mankurad variety at exorbitant rates. The Mankurad brought from other states are being sold at `800 to `1,000 for a dozen by wholesalers. Vendors on their part are selling them at `1,800 to `2,000 per dozen.

“Mankurad mangoes will hit the market by May 15,” Alphonso said, adding that the sudden rise in temperature in March affected the flowering of mango trees. Mango wholesalers said that Mankurad variety has not yet been harvested fully.

“The size of the variety is smaller this season. We waited till the Mankurad ripened fully so that there would not be loss of taste. Some people plucked them raw and forcibly ripened them.

But the method dilutes the real taste of Mankurad,’’ wholesaler S. Sayeed said.

Another wholesaler said the absence of Goan Mankurad in the market has made way for the ‘import’ of other varieties like Musarad, Alphonso, and Colaco from other states.

These varieties of mangoes are also being sold at higher prices.