Because of a sharp decline in output, residents of the Koraput district might not be able to enjoy the taste of mangoes this year. Unfavorable weather throughout the blooming and fruit setting stages is considered to have contributed to a loss in production if the yield has decreased by more than 50%. The district, which includes Kundra, Boipariguda, Borigumma, Lamataput, Narayanpatana, Dasmantpur, Laxmipur, Nandapur, and Koraput, has 15,000 acres of mango crop coverage.
Both local and export kinds are grown by the local farmers here. This year’s production has decreased to barely one to two tons per acre, leading the local farmers to suffer severe losses. Normally, production yields three to four tons per acre. According to sources, unfavorable weather conditions in March and April, characterized by a deficiency of precipitation, worsened the situation and negatively impacted the crops.
“We have suffered a lot due to low productivity this year, after a decade. There will be only one to two tonne mango production per acre which may not meet our cost of inputs,” rued Narendra Pradhan, a mango grower of Kundra block .
Meanwhile, market prices for mangoes have skyrocketed, with common varieties like Dasseri and Amrapali reaching up to Rs 100 per kg, compared to last year’s price of Rs 40 per kg. Borigumma mango market which is major centre of Koraput district was also affected due to low productivity. As low supply from local mango growers is recorded, we are looking to import from neighbouring states to meet the demands,” said Jagannath Nayak, a trader of Borigumma market. To meet the local demand, traders are now importing mangoes from Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
Koraput’s deputy director of Horticulture, Sudam Charan Biswal, acknowledged the fall in mango production, citing bad weather conditions during critical growth stages. “Mango has an alternative bearing habit, and this year’s weather was not conducive during flowering and fruit setting stages,” he said.
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