Mangoes are already here, but prices on the higher side for now

BENGALURU: For mango lovers, this summer season is going to be bitter as the king of the fruits has become costlier due to low yield ahead of the Ugadi festival in the state.

Many people wait the whole year for the summer season just to get the taste of mangoes. The good news for people is that this year, the mango stocks have arrived in the market in March itself. However, the prices of mangoes are quite high presently.

“Last year, due to a sudden change in weather and the blossom blight disease in December, many young blossom spurs withered. At present, flowering is happening in four different stages. Diseases are more prevalent when the tree bears young blossom spurs. From the mango board, we have given training to farmers on controlling the disease. Due to the extended flowering period, mangoes will be available to consumers from the second week of April to the end of August this year. We are cultivating mangoes on 1.6 lakh hectares. Sindhuri and Raspuri mangoes will be available early, but Alphonso mangoes will be available later due to damage to young blossoms in December”, said Dr C G Nagaraju, MD of Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Ltd.

Dr C G Nagaraju, MD of Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited.

“At present, mangoes are available, but more stocks will be available in April and the more tastier mangoes will come after the second week of April. Right now, the mangoes that we are getting are from Maharashtra and the produce from our state will be available from April to August. We are expecting a yield of 12 lakh tons of mangoes this year, of which we consume around 4-5 lakh tons, and another 35 per cent will be used by the food processing industry and also exported to other states. The Totapuri variety is the most commonly used for processing and it is mostly grow in Kolar and Chikkaballapur. Last year, the yield was less and the quality was average. We are expecting a good yield this year and we are supporting our farmers as they have faced losses over the past two-to-three years”, he added.

Srinivas, a mango seller in the city, says the prices are on the higher side right now.

“Mangoes are available in the market, but the price is high. The officials are not allowing us to set up shops here as they are repairing the road. We sell Raspuri and Alphonso at Rs 280 per kg, and Banganapalle variety at Rs 120-150 per kg”, said Srinivas, a mango trader on Jayamahal Road in the city.