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R. Balaji

Production to be less than half of last year's

Chennai , April 6

Mango lovers will have to wait longer this year as the season is delayed. The delayed season will also hit processing units in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, which produce most of the mango pulp for the international markets.

According to mango processors in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, and Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, mango pulp production can be affected because of low yield of fruits. Heavy rains during the end of last year affected flowering in mango trees and arrivals of fruit are expected only by May-end. Normally, the season commences in middle or end of April.

Both the districts are major centres for producing mango pulp with over 50 factories in each processing mangoes for the export market. Chittoor alone produces about 75,000 - 80,000 tonnes of pulp a year - most of it Thothapuri variety - and Krishnagiri matches this quantity but also produces the Alphonse fruit pulp.

Weather conditions

According to Mr Balakrishna Reddy, President, Chittoor District Fruit Processors Federation, mango production could be lower this season but it would be difficult to predict the arrivals.

Because of adverse weather conditions during the flowering season in December, flowering has not only been delayed but also staggered. Some plantations were reporting flowering in February and it remains to be seen whether these will mature to become fruits, he said.

Pulping units are expected to start processing much later than May-end, the usual time.

Estimates

According to Mr G. Venkatasamy, President, Dharmapuri District Fruit & Vegetable Processors' Federation, pulp production cost would be higher this year.

Estimates indicate that mango production would be less than half that of last year when Krishnagiri produced about 2.5 lakh tonnes of mangoes. Prices were then Rs 15,000 a tonne, while Thothapuri fetched about Rs 3,000. This year price estimates would be available once arrivals commence.

According to a mango processor, Mr K. Goverdhana Bobby, Executive Director, Suvera Processed Foods Pvt Ltd, in Chittoor, it is early to hazard an estimate, but prices will definitely be higher as production could be down by about 30-40 per cent.

Last year, the prices ranged between Rs 2.75 a kg and about Rs 7-7.75 for `Thothapuri,' the variety that is most used for manufacturing pulp.

Usually, prices start low and end high during the mango season.

Pulp supply

Mr Balakrishna Reddy said processors supply pulp in cans, six cans making a carton of 18.6 kg. They sold these at about Rs 360 - break-even price, according to him - a carton last year during the season and subsequently it dropped to Rs 320.

When raw material prices increase, the carton price may not always increase proportionately as the canners depend on merchant exporters who in turn say the markets in the West Asia fix the prices.

More Stories on : Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | Foods & Food Processing | Climate & Weather | Andhra Pradesh | Tamil Nadu

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