Due to the cyclone's effect, there has been a delay in the flowering of mango trees in certain areas, which is expected to impact the harvesting period. This year, despite being in season, the anticipated bumper crop has led to disappointment among farmers as the simultaneous harvesting across various regions could potentially lower the prices.
Karnataka, a leading mango producer in India, has around 170,000 hectares dedicated to mango cultivation across 16 districts, notably in Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Dharwad, and Ramanagar. The state boasts an annual production of approximately 1 million to 1.2 million tons, with over 100,000 mango growers.
N R Chinnappa Reddy, president of the Kolar Mango Growers' Association, noted that flowering typically begins in December in Ramanagara and its vicinity, while in Kolar, it starts in January. It takes about 100 days for the flowers to develop into fruit. However, due to the cyclone's impact, Ramanagara and surrounding areas experienced a delay in flowering.
Reddy further explained that under normal circumstances, harvesting in Ramanagara occurs in April and Kolar in May, helping to distribute the harvesting season and stabilize fruit prices. However, with the expected high supply in May, prices are likely to decrease significantly.
Similar delays in flowering were reported in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, and Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, further exacerbating market pressure alongside Kolar mangoes. Despite Karnataka's prominence in mango production, the region has a limited number of pulp and pickle industries, with no pickle industries in Kolar itself. Mangoes from Kolar are therefore sent to Dakshina Kannada and other areas for processing.
Source: New Indian Express