The Hindu Business Line : Mango production set to register steep fall

According to the estimates of Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Department (APHD), the crop size of mango in the State will be 40 per cent of the normal annual production of about 28 lakh tonnes. While foggy mornings in January affected the flowering, high temperatures in March and a prolonged dry spell had resulted in low crop yields. With 3.5 lakh hectares covered by mango orchards, Andhra Pradesh stands first in the country in the production of the "king of fruits".

Even in the neighbouring Karnataka, particularly in the Mysore belt, the output of the mango crop is estimated to be below average. Similar is the case in Gujarat, Mr Ninad Bhosle, Vice-President - Exports of ITC International Business Division, told Business Line.

While the production of mangoes will be less, the quality of the fruit is expected to be much better in Andhra Pradesh this year. As a result, the prices of mangoes are expected to rise sharply, partly compensating the farmer for the loss in the production.

The APHD Joint Director, Mr Sambasiva Rao, said the department would be convening a buyers-sellers meet in the first week of May to ensure remunerative prices to mango growers. About 25 wholesale traders of mangoes from all over the country and selected mango growers from the State would be invited to take part in the meeting.

Among the various varieties of mangoes, the production of Totapuri variety, widely used for making mango pulp, is expected to decline further in Andhra Pradesh. In the Vijayawada-Nuzvid belt, the fruit output is estimated to be not more than 20 per cent of the normal crop size. Severe water scarcity in the region has led to a decline in the crop yields. Besides Andhra Pradesh, South Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the major producers of Totapuri mangoes.

The exporters of Totapuri mango pulp estimate the fruit prices will start from Rs 5 a kg and go up to Rs 7 a kg this year as against Rs 2 to Rs 3 a kg during the beginning of the mango season last year. With the firming up of the rupee against dollar, Mr Bhosle said, export of mango pulp would not be viable if the fruit prices increased beyond Rs 5 a kg. In 2002-03, 96,000 tonnes of mango pulp, worth Rs 297 crore, was exported from the country.

On the whole, India produces more than 500 varieties of mangoes. Of these, 52 varieties are stated to be popular among the people.

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