Lack of pre-monsoon showers may hit mango crop in Kolar

Mango growers in Kolar district, the mango basket of Karnataka, are a worried a lot. This being an “on-year blooming” season, they have been hoping for a bumper crop. But now, they fear that mango production may be hit as the district has not received the pre-monsoon showers as expected.

Generally, mango trees flower between December and February and, after pollination, the fruit-setting process starts by March if there is adequate pre-monsoon showers. Mangoes are ready for harvesting by May-June.

However, due to the failure of pre-monsoon showers, fruit-setting has been delayed in several mango groves in Kolar, Srinivasapur, Bangarpet, Mulbagal and Malur taluks. Instead, several hundreds of trees have just started to flower.

The previous year, too, flowering took place a little late, delaying the harvesting by a couple of months. However, the only relief to farmers this time is that the Totapuri variety has grown to a good size.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Assistant Director of Horticulture H Manjunath said lack of pre-monsoon showers may play spoilsport and hit harvesting too. Lack of rain leads to withering of leaves and flowers. Since most of the cultivation is rain-fed, only those who can afford can water their groves once a week, the official said.

Areas expanded

Areas under mango cultivation in the district have increased over the years. In 2010, mango was cultivated in 40,769 hectares and during 2011-12 it increased to 43,177 hectares. This year, mango is being cultivated on 45,252 hectares, an increase of 2,075 hectares.

Mango is cultivated on 23,075 hectares in Srinivaspur taluk; 12,070 hectares in Mulbagal taluk; 3,662 hectares in Bangarpet taluk; 4,874 hectares in Kolar taluk and 1,571 hectares in Malur taluk. During 2009, the “on-year blooming” season, 4.64 lakh tonnes of mangoes were produced in the district while it was 5.17 lakh tonnes in 2011. And in the 2012 “off year,” the production was 3.62 lakh tonnes, Manjunath said.