Mango production in India is likely to be only marginally higher - by about seven per cent - at 16,122.8 lakh tonnes this year due to lingering cool weather, a senior government official said.

“We expect the total mango production to go up by seven per cent at 16,122.8 lakh tonnes, compared to the last year. But it is too early to predict the actual production,” National Horticulture Board (NHB) Managing Director Mr Bijay Kumar told PTI.

The flowering is good this year, however, the long winter season causing lingering cool temperature, and hailstorms are likely to affect the fruiting, bringing the production down almost to last year’s level, he said.

The total mango production during 2010 stood at 15,026.7 lakh tonnes, according to data given by NHB.In India, mango is mainly harvested in two seasons, the early season begins from February and lasts till June.

King of mango, Alphonso, falls under the early varieties and this year Alphonso fruiting is on par with the last year.

Earlier it was estimated that the production will be 25 per cent more than last year. Alphonso production stood at 17.7 lakh tonnes in 2010, cultivated over 3.40 lakh hectares, Mr Kumar said.

Alphonso is also the most popular variety abroad and about 40 per cent of the produce is usually exported to the Middle East countries, Europe and the US.

The second season begins in June and goes on till August, when most mango varieties are harvested.

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