India: Horticulture department foresees decline in mango crop

Karnataka Horticulture department is now skeptical about the mango production in the state this year. The skepticism has come about because of untimely rains, retention of high humidity in the atmosphere and attack of pests which has resulted in erratic flowering pattern.

This is the forecast of the State Horticulture department and there will be less produce this year. While in south Karnataka flowering is delayed and in the north of Karnataka, the mango trees have seen around 30 per cent of flowering, Dr S V Hittalmani, Additional Director-Fruits, Karnataka Horticulture department, told F&B News.

Though we are not yet into the season, the mango production is likely to be low this season when compared to what it was last year, he added. There has hardly been any flowering in the early season of November-December in the mango growing belt of Kolar, Dharwad, Chitradurga and places in and around Bangalore.

During 2009, the state had a bumper crop which accounted for 8 lakh tonnes of the harvest. In the coming season the department estimates it to be  2.5 lakh to 3 lakh tonnes. This short supply will have a detrimental effect on the cost which is likely to be more than double.

Food industry experts opined that the mango processing industry will be hit by the shortfall of mangoes this season. The industry uses the thotapuri variety. The pulp is used to making ready-to serve beverages, squashes, jams, jelly, fruit bars and also used in Individual Quick Freeze process for export markets. The processors used to purchase the fruit directly from the farms at  Rs 6000 to 8000 per tonne. With a decline in crop quantity, prices will be between Rs 18,000  and  Rs 20,000 a tonne.

The thotapuri is grown in areas like Kolar, Chickballapur, Madanpalle, Krishnagiri and Chitoor. Even in neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh it will be lean crop for the king of fruits, stated experts.

The state horticulture department was hoping to see relief during the second flowering season in January-February 2010. But last year, this phase was patchy but the second flowering season proved good. Even if the second season saw a good amount of flowering it might not cover up for the expected production drop due to the poor flowering in November-December, said Hittalmani.

The State has a total of 1.4 lakh hectares of area under mango cultivation, while the prime fruit yielding area is about 85.000 hectares.

Source: fnbnews.com