PANJIM, MAY 16
Last few days the markets have been flooded by the Goan delight, Mancurad mangoes but mango traders are not a happy lot. This season, they have not able to earn expected returns for two reasons.
One, mango production has been less this year. There has been drop in the production almost by 40 per cent as weather turned truant during flowering period in January – February.
April 15 -30 is considered to be a peak period for mangoes but trend has been altered this year as fruits did not mature in time due to late flowering.
On the other hand, traders have not benefited despite of inequalities in the demand and supply.
For if, in the early March, the price of Mancurad mango sky-rocketed to Rs 600-700 per dozen due to less mango in the market, the price has now crashed down to Rs 150-200 per dozen as the first week of May experienced exceptional escalation in mercury level leading to maturing of fruit pretty fast.
“Extreme heat and humidity has lead to ripening of mangoes at one go which is why you see so much mangoes in the market during last few days,” says explains Satish Tendulkar, Director of Agriculture.
So if, initially the farmers benefited by less production of mango (less fruit in the market fetched them good price so much so single fruit came to be sold even for Rs 100-150) as crop got delayed due to weather conditions however extreme rise in the temperature now has changed the situation.
This year’s mango production has been around 6000 metric tons, about 4000 tons less by annual average.
While mangoes are available in the market till end of May and sometimes early June; this time situation will be different as
rise in the temperature has led to ripening of mangoes much faster than under the normal conditions.
“You will not see much mango at the end of May, “hinted Tendulkar.
CASHEW PRODUCE: It’s not alone mango farmers who have been affected, this season.
The season has been equally bad for cashew farmers too. Unfavourable weather has led to drop in the cashew production.
The State’s average cashew production for any given season is about 23000 metric but this season, it is likely to about 15000 metric ton, says Tendulkar.
