No flowering in mango trees; growers worried in Halebeedu

Insufficient rainfall, depleting water table delay flowering

Mangoes, popular as the ‘king of fruits’, start arriving in the market by the month of April. But, mango growers of Halebeedu and surrounding areas are a worried lot, as flowering is yet to start in the trees.

The trees are in full bloom in the month of February, the flowering season, and start producing the fruits. But here, the trees have not shown any sign of flowering. The mango trees, which are dependent on rains, have not been profitable for farmers of Adagur region for past several years, mainly due to insufficient rainfall. Also, the water table of the region has depleted resulting in delayed flowering and poor yield. The trees are also at the risk of being attacked by pests (boodhi roga).

Speaking to Deccan Herald, some farmers opined that the region had not received a good spell of rain for the past eight years. Sometimes, just when the trees start flowering, there are unexpected rains and all the flowers are destroyed due to the intensity of the rains. Hailstones also destroy raw mangoes. The adverse weather conditions have become a bane for mango growers, they explained.

Moreover, as it affects the demand and supply chain, the farmers do not get good price for their yield. Trees in farms, only those which have water facilities, have started flowering. But the fruits are not of good quality, they opined.

Vijay Kumar Muthaiah, Neeravari Horatagara, Adagur, opined, if the lakes and ponds are filled with water from Yagachi reservoir, it will improve the water table and also help in good yield. It would also benefit the residents and the cattle providing them drinking water.