The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : It is late, but the king of fruits arrives in all hues

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Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

It is late, but the king of fruits arrives in all hues

M. Raghuram

Varieties from other States have flooded the market

Supply of local varieties has come down by at least 50 per cent
State’s mango output likely to be 1 lakh tonnes

Irresistible: Despite reports of crop loss owing to unseasonable rain, the mango has kept its rendezvous with consumers.

BANGALORE: Many mango lovers, who were dreading the prospect of not being able to feast on the fruit to their heart’s content, can now rest easy. The golden fruit is flooding the market finally. There were fears of a whitewash following the reports of crop loss due to unseasonable rain in March and April. But the country’s favourite fruit has sustained its survival instinct and has kept its rendezvous with consumers.

Look anywhere in the city right from Hulimavu to Yeshwanthpur, the city is filled with yellows, greens and reds. Go onto the streets in the early mornings and you can fill your mind and heart by looking at loads of mangoes being stocked by the roadside vending areas, push carts, mandis and markets. It is late but they have arrived.

Speak to the traders and the picture is not so rosy. “Crops in Karnataka have failed, the worst hit was the Karnataka Alphonso which is rated alongside its Devgarh and Rathnagiri cousins, says Syed Agha one of the main trader and exporter in the city. The flow is copious thanks to the varieties from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra the market has acquired its full girth he says. Benganpalli (Benishan), Manganpalli and Rathnagiri and Devgarh Alphonso have arrived in good volumes and prices have dipped, says Mr. Agha.

The traditional Karnataka varieties such as Saindhura (Lalbagh), Raspuri (Pairi), Malgoba and Mallika and some varieties from Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi such as Mundappa, Kadri, Kaatu, Sakkarepotli are also available in smaller quantities in markets such as Malleshwararm, Vijayanagar and Rajajinagar, says Mohammad Murtuza, another mango trader from Yeshwanthpur yard.

Bangalore city has a demand of 2,000 tonnes a day, but the supply of local varieties has come down by at least 50 per cent in the current season. But the early arrival of the Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh varieties has balanced the deficit between the supply and demand. However, Mr. Agha says the export of Karnataka variety of Alphonso was getting good demand and the rates have gone up to Rs. 50 to Rs. 60 a kg. The Department of Horticulture sources said that this year the crop from Karnataka could top off at 1 lakh tonnes in the season as against seven lakh tonnes last year.

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