Unseasonal rains, thundershowers and hailstorms have caused damage to nearly 30% of mango crops in different parts of Uttar Pradesh. Mango growers in Saharanpur have estimated the amount of loss to about 70%. This means that the price of mangoes may shoot up because of the damage.
The first and the second phase flowering has been lost to a great extent due to untimely rains. Now, the farmers have pinned their hopes on the third phase flowering. The woes of mango growers are much worse than farmers growing other crops as they are not entitled to any compensation granted by the state or the central government.
However, the state Public Works Department and Irrigation Minister has said that Rs. 200 crore has been released by the Uttar Pradesh government as a quick relief measure, which will be distributed among the farmers who have lost their crops.
Untimely rains and thunderstorms have perished the flowers which do require high temperatures to sustain. The cost of Dussheri mango will most likely go up by about Rs. 10 – 20/kg. Last year good quality Dussheri mango was sold at Rs. 40/kg. Chausa and Safeda were sold at about Rs. 30 – 35/kg.
Uttar Pradesh has a number of mango belts growing a wide variety of mangoes, the most famous being in Malihabad in Lucknow. Other belts include Shahabad, Amroha, Bulandshahr, Hardoi, Unnao, Barabanki and Saharanpur.
Image Credit: (agricultureinformation.com)
