Mango price may not tickle taste buds

The king of fruits, mango is here to rule the price charts this season due to very low yield, denying fruit lovers the chance to relish it in abandon.

Mango yield this year has dipped drastically due to poor rainfall in the growing areas, within the State and in other parts of the country.  

Experts say scanty rainfall has affected the yield and also the quality of the fruit. S V Hittalmani, retired additional director, Horticultural Department told Deccan Herald on Monday that against an initial estimate of 10 lakh tonne arrivals for the current season, only 3.5 lakh tonnes are expected to land if rain continues to play truant.

“In Kolar and Chikkaballapur, the two primary growing areas, there has not been much rain. As a result, there is likely to be less fruit this season,” he explained.

Hittalmani said there were no issues during the flowering period and the problems cropped up only after that. “The flowering took place from  December to February.

Thus, some quantity of the fruit arrived in the markets. However, if it does not rain, there will be premature dropping leading to loss,” he said. With just 30 per cent of the actual produce expected to arrive in the market, the prices will rule high all along.”

A S Chandre Gowda, director, HOPCOMS, Chikkaballapur, said that it is just 40 per cent of the anticipated produce that is likely to hit the market. “The prices are already high and are likely to drop mid-season. However, it will again soar towards the end of the season.” 

Somu, Deputy Director, Mango Development Board, said last year, 3.5 lakh tonnes produce came from Kolar district alone, the major producer. This season, it might only reach 1.75 lakh tonnes due to scanty rainfall.  

Shanmukhappa, Managing Director, HOPCOMS, however, spiked all price talk and said consumers need not be disheartened as a false impression was being created. “People have to wait. It is not even May yet. The actual season is yet to begin,” he said.