Mango growers expect slump in yield

The mangroves at Srinivaspur, Mulbagal and some other parts of Kolar and Chickballapur 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 has left the farmers in lurch.  

The flowering season of mangoes usually ends by January  and the fruits are ready for harvest by April-end or beginning of May. However the intermittent rain from December to January has delayed the flowering process. As a result, the flowering season which usually ends by January has continued well into February.

With the extension of the flowering season, the harvest season is expected to be delayed by a month, that is, it is expected by May-end or early June.

Low yield

Apart from the delay, the yield is also expected to be less this year as mango trees usually give a 100 per cent yield every alternate year. Since the yield was complete last year, the yield this year is expected to be lesser by at least 50 to 60 per cent. As a result of this, there may be an increase in the price this year.

“Last year, we had grown 4,64,115 tonne mangoes, however this year the yield will probably be about two lakh tonne,” says Deputy Director of the Horticulture department, Dr Dhanraj. However, no difference is expected in the yield of mango varieties like Mallika, Amarapali, Ratna and Sindhu.

Land under cultivation

A total of 1,17,381 hectare land is under mango cultivation in the State. Of this, 40,769 hectare is in the district, that is about 47 per cent of the total land under mango cultivation.