This has occurred due to the early flowering because of an increase in the temperatures during the month of February. Not only does the heat should be blamed alone but drought is also the cause of the ripening of the fruits a tad bit early this time.
As per the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited manager Kadre Gowda, while excessive heat is responsible for making mangoes sweeter, mango size may end up being smaller. Due to the small size, not only the price will be affected but export will also be impacted. One of the most prominent varieties popular in the US, Gulf countries as well as Europe is the Alphonso.
At present, the mangoes are in four stages, while some of them are still in the flowering stage, others are the size of peanuts, some of them are also of lemon size and some are completely ripe and mature. The yield as per present estimates is expected to be around eight to 10 lakh tons.
The next fifteen days will be crucial for determining the final output. During that time, the harvesting will begin and fruits will hit the market. During the next few days, hailstorm or sudden rainfall as well as gusty winds may affect the yield.
Usually, the yield is around 13 to 14 lakh tonnes, which was the case last year and a surplus production was announced. In Karnataka, the maximum mango production reaches 16 lakh tonnes, this happens when summer as well as rains are as expected.
Currently, a mango variety called the Sindhura has already hit the markets and is priced at around Rs 150 per kg. However, as per the officials, these crops are from neighbouring states and the ripening is done through artificial methods, thus it is advisable to not buy them.
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