The usual yield per acre is 5-6 tonnes but this year it has dropped to 2-3 tonnes

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

The mango growers in the state are a distraught lot as low yield has hit them hard. Several reasons including climate change, water shortage, pets, fruit dropping due to high winds and other factors have resulted in the low yield. In Telangana, mangoes are grown in a total area of 3 lakh acres. Mango cultivators in the undivided Nalgonda district grow the ‘king of fruit’ in 24,584 acres. 11,460 acres in Suryapet district, 10,874 acres in Yadadri district, and 2,250 acres in Nalgonda district

In the joint district, the Banginapalli variety is grown the most with a 95 percent coverage. The mango varieties like Daseri, Himayat, Kesari, Mallika are being used for eating and juice varieties and sugarcane juices, like Jalal, Neelam, and Tella Gulati  varieties are being used for pickles. A farmer from  Kollapur of Mahbubnagar district, Chandrudu said this year was a tough time for Kollapur in Nagarkurnool district of the State although it is famous for its mangoes.

“The Banginapalli mango grown in this area is called Benisa. The Mangoes are mostly exported to other countries from this area. Banginapalli is also being grown in the joint district. The farmers have suffered losses this year due to the expected level of yield. Normally, when the month of March arrives in summer, the arrival of mangoes start. This time, although the month of April is ending, these fruits are not seen in the market at the expected level.

This year, it has been a tough time for the mangoes. The Mangoes reach the flowering stage in January. This time, the blossoming took place in February. The Scientists say that due to the snowfall until March, honeydew and powdery mildew caused severe damage to the fruits during the blossoming stage. Usually, mango yields 5-6 tons per acre. This year, the yield did not exceed 2-3 tonnes,” he said. He said that problems in mango ownership, water shortage, and inability to withstand the weather as most of the orchards were planted about 20 years ago had become the main problems for the low production of the mangoes.

The Farmers say that due to high temperatures and strong winds this summer, even after the fruit reaches the size of the fruit, the main problem was that the fruits fall from the fruit stage.  They are expressing their grief that the investments made by them had not been received due to the low yield.

Due to the unseasonal rains, the mango farmers in Kollapur have suffered heavy losses The Mangoes are extensively cultivated in the district covering an area of over 33,000 acres. Of these, nearly 23,000 acres fall under the limits of four mandals in Kollapur region. Although the yields are decreasing every year, the prices of the mangoes in the market have increased to some extent, which has helped the farmers.

Currently, there is no large quantity of the mangoes in the market, but the price has gone down. Last year, the price of the mangoes was up to Rs. 150 per kg but today the mangoes are being sold for up to Rs. 100 per kg depending on the size. Farmers say that they are getting only Rs. 30-40 per kg as earning.