Untimely rains, hails harm 20% mango crop
Since last few days, unseasonal rains, hailstorm and gusty wind due to the western disturbance have impacted both foodgrain and horticultural crops in some parts of the country. First untimely rains did not cause damage, but later rains and hailstorm have badly impacted the mango crop. The total damage to be about 20 per cent as of now.
Untimely rains, hailstorm and strong wind have caused 20 per cent damage to mango crops in the country, according to senior ICAR officials. Many mango growers said the damage has been huge in North India due to hailstorm and thunderstorm.
Mango is an important fruit crop in India and popularly called the 'King of Fruits'. India is a major mango growing country, contributing nearly 42 per cent of the world's production. The country's mango production was at 210 lakh tonne in 2021-22 crop year (July-June), as against 203.86 lakh tonne in the previous year, as per the government's estimate.
Since last few days, unseasonal rains, hailstorm and gusty wind due to the western disturbance have impacted both foodgrain and horticultural crops in some parts of the country.
"First untimely rains did not cause damage, but later rains and hailstorm have badly impacted the mango crop. We anticipate the total damage to be about 20 per cent as of now," according to Indian Council of Agricultural Research(ICAR) Deputy Director General (Horticulture) A K Singh.
The frequency of the mango crop loss has been more in North India, especially Uttar Pradesh which is a leading mango producing state in the country. The anticipated mango crop loss in North India alone is about 30 per cent, while in South India the damage is less than 8 per cent, he said.
There has been up to 75 per cent damage due to hailstorm in Maal-Malihabad mango hub area in Uttar Pradesh, said a farmer, pointing at black fungus because of high moisture content during flowering stage. The high moisture has caused pest infestation in mango trees in some parts. This will affect availability of quality mangoes for export purpose.
ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture Director T Damodaran said there has been up to 50 per cent damage in Maal-Malihabad belt bordering Sitapur district of UP mainly because of thunderstorm and hailstorm.
Otherwise, the crop condition is "very good" in six out of seven major mango-growing districts including Lucknow, Hardoi, Kushinagar, Gorakpur, Aligarh, Saharanpur and Barabanki, he said.
