The unexpected weather conditions have adversely affected the production of mangoes in Karnataka.
Bengaluru’s mango mela has been delayed by 15 days due to the low production of mangoes in almost 200 farms around the city.
N. Jayaprakash, assistant director of Horticulture, Horticultural Producers’ Cooperative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS),said, “We will be starting the mango mela after 15 days, that too only if we have enough mango production. Currently the production is low due to which we have not yet decided any specific date for the mela.”
The mangoes that are being sold outside HOPCOMS, Lalbagh, are from Ramanagara. The prices of mangoes are also high right now, added Jayaprakash.
Setting up his stall at HOPCOMS, Lalbhag, Swami said, “My father is a mango farmer in Ramanagara, I bring mangoes from there to sell in Bengaluru. This year we are seeing a low production of mangoes due to which the prices are high and consumers are not buying them.” “Prices of pesticides, labour and transportation of mangoes to the city has also increased. So, to earn our livelihood, we have to sell them at a higher price,” added Swami.
While packing other fruits and vegetables for a customer, Vijay, a 22-year-old worker at a mango stall, said, “The footfall is very low and the people who visit us usually buy other fruits instead of mangoes. Everyone is waiting for prices to go down.”
Meena, a customer at the HOPCOMS stall, said, “I love mangoes, but I cannot afford to buy one kg of mangoes for Rs. 190. Maybe the prices are high because it’s the start of the mango season. I will definitely buy them when the prices are low. Usually in the mango mela, prices are affordable so I am waiting for that.”
“Excess heat in the month of February this year has impacted the production of mangoes. Heat waves and unexpected rainfall are the main causes for low production,” said Jayaprakash.
According to an article, “Karnataka is facing low production of mangoes from the past three years. Unexpected weather conditions have stunted the mango production. A senior official in the Horticulture Department and the Karnataka State Mango Development and Marketing Corporation Limited (KSMDMCL) said that the state might get only 70 per cent of mango yield this season compared to last year.”