Last year, it was unseasonal rains, this year it is late flowering. Consumers will have to wait for a longer time to enjoy the king of fruits, Alphonso mango, this year. Mr Milind Joshi, Divisional Manager, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board, Ratnagiri district, told Business Line that the flowering of the mango trees had begun late, due to the atmospheric conditions. “For the flowering to happen properly, it is essential that cold temperature be prevalent. This year, the winter season was less and this has resulted in the late flowering of the mangoes,” he said.
Mangoes usually vend their way into the market by March from Devgad moving on to Ratnagiri by the first week of April, and continue till the end of May. But as a teaser, the first box of Alphonso, four dozens, made its way into the city market by the first week of January, priced at Rs 10,000. These mangoes had come in due to the sudden increase in temperature in November.
Mr Joshi said the first week of April would see a production of about 15 to 20 per cent and by second half of April the production would touch 60 per cent. Mr Sudhir Moraeswar Joshi, Chairman of the Mango Growers Co-operative Society, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, is of the view that this year production would be half. Last year, he said the production from Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg was 1.25 lakh tonnes, and this year it is expected to be less by 50 per cent.
The area under Ratnagiri mango cultivation is around 62,836 hectares with a production of 1,15,939 tonnes per annum. The area under Sindhudurg is around 26,125 hectares with an average production of three tonnes per hectare.
Mr Sudhir noted that the farmers this year would not be able to command a higher price for the fruit as it would be hitting the market with all the other varieties such as kesar. “The farmers can get their price only during the three months of February, March and April, but with less production and competition from the other varieties, it would be difficult times,” he said. Mr Joshi said the percentage of export of Alphonso is expected to increase this year as around 80 farmers have already joined hands for exports to the US. The total number of farmers expected to join is around 120 this year. Last year, it was 60 farmers, he added.
Source: blonnet.com
Publication date: 2/4/2009
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