Karnataka - Mysore   

King of fruits likely to turn sour

Bad news: Untimely rain has severely hit mango production in the State.

MYSORE: The production of mango, the “king of fruits,” is set to register a steep fall owing to unseasonable rain that lashed the State. The rain has severely hit flowering and the tender mangoes are owing to because of excessive moisture.

The mango output, particularly in the Mysore belt, is likely to be below average this year since the rain had led to outbreak of “powdery mildew,” a fungal disease that affects flowering.

The mango prices are likely to shoot up if there was substantial fall in the production.

“Unexpected rain has caused extensive damage to the mango crop. Early showers are a major threat, especially during the flowering season. Based on the preliminary information, we have predicted a 50 per cent fall in the production this year,” said Deputy Director of Horticulture (in-charge) Arvind.

Mr. Arvind told The Hindu that the effects of unexpected rain are being felt in the district with the outbreak of “powdery mildew.” “Tender mangoes either drop from the tree or get damaged (black spots inside the fruit) owing to the rain. When we say dew is a major threat, imagine what would happen to the crop during rain,” the official said.

Powder-like formation happens on the mango flowers preventing fruit formation. Suppose fruits are formed, they drop very early. Powdery mildew is followed by symbiotic fungus, another fungal disease affecting flowering.

“We have started distributing fungicides at 50 per cent subsidy to contain the disease. In any case, the production will come down,” Mr. Arvind said.

All popular varieties of mango are grown in Mysore. The fruits from Mysore are popular in parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Especially the most-popular Alphonso variety is grown in H,.D. Kote taluk, which the largest mango growing taluk in the district.

The popular and lip-smacking varieties of mangoes grown in the district include “raspuri,” “malagoba,, “badami,” “saindoora,” “mallika” and “balaja.” Totapuri, which is most-loved by children because of its sweet and sour taste, is also grown in the district.

Though Mysore district is not a prominent mango producing one compared with districts such as Kolar, the area under mango cultivation has been increasing every year. Other major mango belts in Karnataka are Tumkur, Hassan, Chickmagalur, Belgaum and Dharwad.

Srinivasapura in Kolar district is the largest mango grower and 50 per cent of the production in the State comes from Kolar district alone.

Nonetheless, the climatic condition of Mysore district is most suited for mango cultivation and, therefore, the area of cultivation is increasing here, according to official sources.

“Though the mango yield had come down last year in the district owing to delayed flowering caused due to excessive humidity in December 2006, the area under cultivation has increased, which is noteworthy,” an official said.

Last year, mango was cultivated in 3,000 hectares of land and the area of cultivation had gone by over 1,000 hectares. The last year’s mango production in the district was 24,333 tonnes and the average yield per hectare was 100 tonnes.

H.D. Kote and Hunsur are the prominent mango-growing belts in the district and Mysore taluk is also fast emerging as one.

In fact, mango crop had witnessed fall because of unexpected rains in 2006 and there was dip in the arrival of the fruit to the markets.

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

Stories in this Section

King of fruits likely to turn sour
Railway workshop at Mysore to get a facelift
H.D. Kote citizens assert their right to information
Golden Chariot bookings expected to pick up during Dasara season
Resolution passed against power project at Chamalapura
Making youth aware of Gandhiji’s life
Manivannan relieved of MCC Commissioner’s post

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu