Even as the peak mango season is expected to start from May 15, the overall yield of the crop is likely to be low this year and horticulture experts predict that the output in the State could be less than 50 per cent for various reasons. The shortfall may turn the king of fruits expensive.
Described as an “off-year” for the crop, about 7-8 lakh tonnes of fruit is expected as against the yield of about 15 lakh tonnes in a normal year. The peak mango season this year is likely between May 15 and June-end and the late arrivals were said to be due to delayed flowering.
The prolonged rain last year that increased moisture in the soil is cited as one of the reasons for the delayed flowering besides extensive growth of vegetative flush, fruit fall and mango hopper menace. Usually, flowering takes place in November-December but it did not happen in most places and was predominantly noticed in January and February. “This is because of moisture in the soil and other factors,” explains senior horticulture expert S.V. Hittalmani.
“Around 3 lakh tonnes of crop can be expected between May and June this year. There is not much hope of a reasonable yield and the overall output in the State could be between 35-40 per cent if the conditions in the coming months remain favourable to the crop. The yield is lower than what we had expected earlier because of the factors that contributed to delayed flowering and falling of flowers,” said Mr. Hittalmani.
To create a competitive market for the crop, the Department of Horticulture and the Karnataka Mango Development Board organised a buyer-seller meet in Bengaluru so that the crop fetched a better price for the farmers. Top traders from North India visited the mango plantations in and around Bengaluru and in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts in a bid to procure best fruits directly from the growers.
“This initiative is happening for the first time where traders from other States are visiting the orchards to buy the fruit. Such visits are being organised through the government network. This will result in a competitive market and end the middlemen menace and enable the fruits grown in the State get best prices. The traders were happy to see the quality of the fruits in some of the orchards,” said Mr. Hittalmani, who accompanied the Horticulture Department and board officials during the visit to farms.
Karnataka produced around 15 lakh tonnes of mangoes last year. In spite of problems last year such as rains in May and June and COVID-19 induced lockdowns, farmers resorted to direct marketing unlike in 2020 when the situation was entirely different with the outbreak of the pandemic.
The early varieties like raspuri, sindhura, and badami are likely to hit the markets in the coming weeks but due to expected fall in production, the fruit is likely to turn expensive, particularly the premium varieties.
