Unseasonal variations in mango crop worries farmers

Adding to the worry is the sprouting of leaves in some trees. The tender leaves absorb the nutrition denying it the flowers, thereby hindering the growth of fruits.
The farmers say that these leaves may prevent sun light from reaching the tender mangos which may be infected by diseases.

The flowering usually occurs in December last week or January first week. However, the phenomenon has not occurred this year even in February. The grower have invested heavily on the fertiliser for the purpose, but the trees are yet to flower properly. Cloudy weather and dense fog in the morning over the past few days have  made the farmers worry as it is a bad augury for crop yield. This has made the farmers to spray pesticides more than normal. This is causing serious concern for those who lease the  trees on the basis of its flowering.

The mangroves at Srinivaspur, Mulbagal and some other parts of Kolar and Chikkballapur districts are well known for mango cultivation. Srinivaspur, is considered as the “mango bowl” of Karnataka.

Mangoes are the major source of income for farmers here. But the slow flowering and the new sprout have left the farmers in lurch.
 However the farmers are hoping for something to happen so that they can reach at least a break-even point.
DH News Service