The Uttar Pradesh government has initiated a policy to exempt farmers from needing governmental approval for pruning mango trees, aiming to elevate both the yield and quality of mangoes. This move is expected to facilitate canopy management, particularly benefiting aged orchards by restoring their productivity levels. Mango cultivation is a key agricultural activity in Uttar Pradesh, with an annual production of 4.5 million tons over 260,000 hectares. A significant portion of these orchards, about 40%, are over forty years old and suffer from reduced productivity due to inadequate sunlight penetration and increased susceptibility to pests and diseases, leading to excessive pesticide use.
To combat these challenges, the Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture has introduced a pruning technique designed to rejuvenate old trees by enhancing light penetration and reducing pesticide reliance. This technique, which involves the pruning of tertiary branches, is expected to significantly improve the health of the trees and their environment, potentially increasing yields to 100 kg per tree within 2-3 years.
Sushil Kumar Shukla, a senior scientist at the institute, emphasizes the importance of canopy management from the planting stage to improve maintenance, protection, and ultimately, the orchard's productivity and fruit quality. The strategy also includes practices for young plant structural development and emphasizes the necessity of canopy management in older orchards to prevent unproductivity.
Source: bhaskarlive.in