The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Mango growers a worried lot

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 06, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Mango growers a worried lot

Sharath S. Srivatsa

The dry spell in and around Bangalore has raised doubts about a good harvest

DELICIOUS: A file picture of a man arranging mangoes at the Kalasipalyam Market in Bangalore. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Mango growers in an around Bangalore, who expected a bountiful harvest, are deeply worried because of the long dry spell the area is witnessing. It may yet be a bad season for the "King of Fruits."

Deficient rainfall in March and April, the crucial months for mango harvest, has affected the trees in Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural districts. It is expected to bring down the output by at least 25 per cent. Mangoes dropping prematurely from trees are becoming a common sight.

Pre-monsoon showers in Karnataka and Kerala that help in the ripening of mangoes are also called "Mango Showers".

Deputy Director of Horticulture (Bangalore Rural) B. Krishna told The Hindu that the region normally received around 70 mm rainfall in April, which helped farmers in securing quality mangoes.

Over 1.6 lakh tonnes of mango was expected from over 20,000 hectares in Bangalore Rural district this season. Bangalore Urban district was expected to produce around 14,000 tonnes from 1,500 hectares. Orchards around Bangalore are famous for Alphonso, Mallika, Baneshah, Raspuri, Totapuri, Badami, Sendhoora and other varieties.

Dr. Krishna said, "A good rainfall over the next few days is the last hope of saving the crop."

According to B.V. Ramachandrappa, a mango grower from Arebannimangala in Bangalore North taluk, the extent of crop loss could be even 50 per cent, as mangoes had been falling from trees at an alarming rate. Farmers also faced similar problems during the flowering season. "Moisture content in the soil is so low that trees are wilting in the heat. If we get good rainfall without strong winds, we can hope to get a good crop," he added.

Borewells are drying up in several areas and so plants are wilting, says N.C. Patel, a farmer from Nagadasanahalli, near Yelahanka.

Apart from the deficient rainfall, the depletion in the water table has also affected the mango orchards in Bangalore Rural. Since the roots do not go deep in the soil, the trees cannot tap water from the water table leading to crop loss.

For the farmers who expected a good crop after a lull last year, the rain god seems to be playing with their fortunes, keeping them anxiously guessing.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section