India: Less chill means fewer mangoes this year

Higher day and night temperatures this winter have left thousands of mango farmers in south Gujarat worried. Flowering is less this time
and late by almost one-and-half month. Low and poor quality yield of the king of fruits mean lesser returns for majority of growers and exporters in the region.

Compared with previous years, mango trees have not blossomed fully, with about 60 per cent less flowering. Dharmesh Lad, who owns a farm in Dharampur in Valsad, says the unusually high temperature this winter is not favourable for normal flowering.

Also, physiological changes in soil condition due to spells of rains even after monsoon last year, have led to an adverse impact on the crop, in particular, alphonso, langra and kesar varieties that need dry soil to blossom, says Lad. Last year his farm yielded seven tonnes of mangoes, but this time he is not expecting more than four tonnes.

Chilly weather is needed for about a fortnight at least, for mango plants to flower but this winter, the region has not yet witnessed such cold, says RR Shah, dean, agri-business management, Navsari Agriculture University. Inadequate conditions have resulted in less sprouting in hundreds of mango orchards in Surat, Navsari and Valsad districts, Shah says.

Besides, excessive and repetitive flowering last year followed by rains and induced growth of new leaves left plants with not much nutritive elements for normal blossom this time, explains Chandrakant Patel, a horticulture consultant in Valsad.

Even required temperature in the range of a low of 12 degree celsius and a high of 24 for at least 10 days, has not prevailed so far this season, says Patel.

Langra, Alphonso and Kesar from south Gujarat are popular in European and Gulf countries. The US has also opened its market for Indian mangoes since 2007 and about 32 tonnes of Kesar mangoes from south Gujarat were exported there in that year, according to sources here.

With poor yield expected, sales turnover of mangoes from south Gujarat, both in domestic and foreign markets this time, is likely to be on lower side, compared with total turnover during last year, says Lad.


Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Publication date: 2/10/2009