Lack of awareness about pruning of trees has been a major bottleneck in both yield and export of mango and farmers should resort to the technique for registering higher and attractive returns, said scientists who spoke at the day-long training-cum-demonstration on “canopy management in mango and guava” held at Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute here on Tuesday. To drive home the importance of sunlight in increasing the yield, they conducted a practical session on the pruning technique.
T.N. Balamohan, Special Officer, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University-Horticultural College and Research Institute for Women, in his keynote address, said that pruning was imperative for registering high and quality yield in mango as it facilitated penetration of sunlight.
Several techniques were involved in canopy management depending upon the age of the tree and nature of branches. He said canopy management would go a long way in enhancing yield and profitability for mango growers.
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P. Pandiyarajan, Dean, TNAU - Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, said the training formed part of “supply chain programme in mango and guava” being implemented under the National Agricultural Initiative Project. Our country accounted for a variety of mango species but not much importance was being attached to canopy management.
Farmers from Krishnagiri and surrounding belts benefited a lot through the training. Indian mango, which was popular only in West Asia, so far, had now started attracting export market in the U.S. and Europe. He appealed to farmers to adhere to good agricultural practices for not only increasing the yield but to expand their trade in export zones.
A. Alagusundaram, Director, Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology, Thanjavur, in his inaugural address, spoke on the importance of post-harvesting technique. Farmers should adopt cold storage technique for either avoiding or minimising post-harvest loss. Adoption of pulping technology would increase the productivity.
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K. Ramasamy, Dean, Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute, said a series of imported machinery was now available for adopting canopy management. A question hour session was held in which K. Bhuvaneswari and D. Dinakaran, both Professors in Horticulture, offered clarification to farmers’ doubts.
About 200 farmers from various parts of Tamil Nadu participated.
R. Arulmozhiyan and A. Nithya, both faculty members, spoke.