Scanty rain dashes hope of bumper mango harvest, sends price soaring
Once harvested in abundance in Salem, the yield of mangoes has witnessed a drastic drop in production due to continuing dry spell. The poor production has in turn send the price of pulpy mangoes soaring in the retail market. Hence, though the much-awaited mango season has begun, there is nothing to cheer about due to the poor produce and relatively low quality of mangoes.
By : migrator
Update: 2019-05-26 21:15 GMT
Coimbatore
“Mango yield is coming down gradually over the last five years. This season, production has fallen by up to 80 per cent. Last year, the harvest was only 30 per cent of the usual yield and this season it is lesser by another 10 per cent,” said J Sreenivasan, president of Federation of Small Farmers and Traders for Advancement and Protection of Salem Mangoes.
After a low yield last year, the good blooms in mango trees raised the hopes of farmers. What also gave them hopes is that a good year usually follows a bad one. Hence, farmers had high expectations for a bumper harvest with mango orchards in the western district in full bloom during the usual flowering period of December and January.
However, the bountiful flowers failed to bear fruits and instead shed down due to prolonged dry spell. The fate of the harvest is generally decided upon by the summer showers received in the months of March, April and May. The peak mango season, which starts in May, would extend till July.
Over 50 varieties of mangoes like malgova, alphonso, senthoora, imam pasand, nedusala and other types are grown in abundance in the orchards of Salem. Also some north Indian varieties like kesar, rasala and chow chow mangoes are harvested in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Salem districts.
With a huge dip in mangoes reaching the markets, the price of mangoes, too, has skyrocketed. “Prices of mangoes have increased by 20 to 30 per cent due to shortage. Despite high prices, farmers faced huge loss due to low yield,” said Sreenivasan.
Mangoes harvested in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts are mainly meant for pulp production, while the fruits from Salem have a unique taste and are favoured by people across Tamil Nadu. Also large quantities are exported to neighbouring states and across the country by farmers.
For a long time, the mango farmers have been demanding the government to set up a pulp manufacturing unit in the district. Though there are ones run by private firms, they allegedly exploit the farmers and buy mangoes in bulk at a throw away price during the peak season. Also a minimum support price should be fixed for mangoes to prevent farmers incurring huge losses due to heavy production, they urged.
Mango farmers have also sought the help of the government to get GI tag for the mango verities endemic to their region.
Mango Yield Drops
- Yield has dropped by 80 per cent due to prolonged dry spell
- Prices of mangoes increased by 20 to 30 per cent
- Peak mango season is from May to July
- Salem has mango orchards spread over 15,000 acres
- Salem is known for its pulpy and tasty mangoes
- More than 50 varieties of mangoes are grown in Salem
- Farmers demand pulp manufacturing facility
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