Gujarat: Cold weather, rain may halve Kesar mango production

RAJKOT: Kesar mango lovers will have to dig deep into their pockets as the farmers are expecting production to be down by 50%, which may result in a spike in wholesale and retail prices. Farmers claimed that traders in Juangadh and Gir Somnath districts were offering them twice the money for the yearly contract for the sale of Kesar mangoes from their orchards.
Gir Somnath, Junagadh and Amreli districts produce about 2 lakh metric tonne of Kesar mangoes every year.
However, the key reasons for low production include large-scale damage to mango orchards during cyclone Taukte in May 2021. The cyclone that hit the Gujarat coast had caused devastation in Gir Gadhada and Una talukas of Gir Somnath district, which is considered to be hub of Kesar mango cultivation.
Adding to the woes of mango farmers, unseasonal rains that lashed Amreli and Gir Somnath in December and early January, coupled with a dip in temperature, has delayed the flowering of mango trees.
According to experts, low temperature over the past fortnight too has adversely affected the mango crop.
D K Varu, head of the department of fruit science at Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU) said, “The mango crop requires night temperature between 12 and 15 degrees celsius and day temperature of 25 degrees celsius during the flowering stage which falls in December and January. However, this year, the mercury dipped to 8 degrees celsius during the night which has affected the flowering. Unseasonal rain during the same period also impacted flowering.”
“Low temperature during flowering also increases the risk of disease in the mango crop. So, farmers will require more pesticides to protect the mango trees,” he added.
According to farmers, 80% flowering is over by December end and the rest gets completed by mid-January or by Uttarayan festival. However, currently on 50% flowering has occurred in many orchards.
In anticipation of a lean crop this season, traders are offering double the price for mangoes.
Jayesh Hirpara, a Kesar mango farmer in Jamvala area near Talala in Junagadh said, “Usually, I got Rs 2 lakh for mangoes from my 120 trees, but this year I am being offered Rs 4 lakh. If I negotiate, I may get an even better rate.”