Team Herald
PONDA: Farmers expect a bumper mango crop this year with the trees in full blossom due to favourable weather conditions, but some fear that a change in weather in the coming days may hit the crop badly.
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The farmers fear that unseasonal rains and dense fog which has hit the State for the past few days continue, the blossomed trees may lose their flowers.
“We are not afraid of light or moderate showers, but if it rains heavily then it could affect the blossomed mango trees and later affect the crop,” said Ponda farmers.
Two days in the past week, Pondaites witnessed light to moderate showers. Most of mango trees are in flowering process with several trees fully blossomed due to severe cold since past many days which according to the locals is a good condition for flowering but they are afraid of the changing weather including change in temperature.
“I am not worried of light to moderate showers as it will not affect the mango crop, but in case heavy showers continue in coming days then it would hamper the mango crop as due to heavy rain the flowers are likely to fall,” said Mahesh Naik, who is in the wholesale business of buying and selling variety of mangoes, especially Mankurad at Ponda Market.
He further said at present all mango trees are fully blossomed. Currently, it is cold winter beside continuous fog for past many days which has delayed the mango season.
“It needs some heat or warm atmosphere which is expected in coming days for bearing of fruits. After some more days the temperature is likely to become warmer which is favourable for bearing fruit. If the weather turns favourable there can be bumper mango crop but currently the blossomed trees are going through exposure of different climate with sudden change in day and night temperatures, besides fog, unseasonal rainfall which if continue then mango crop would be hit badly,” Naik added.
