Andhra to witness steep decline in mango production

Mango production in Andhra Pradesh, the largest producer of the fruit in the country, is expected to decline by over 30 per cent this year, compared with last year's output of 33 lakh tonnes.

As per the state horticulture department, heavy rains received during October 2006 due to the Ogni cyclonic storm has led to active vegetative phase and resulted in delayed flowering.

"Generally mango flowers in the month of December in the state but this year flowering started in the month of January," commissioner of horticulture, Anil Punetha, told Business Standard.

The quality of mangoes is also expected to be poor due to delayed flowering as the increase in temperatures hamper the development of fruit besides resulting in fruit drop.

With the fall in output and decline in quality, Punetha said, the export of mangoes from the state was also expected to decline. Last year, 500 tonnes of mangoes, valued at Rs 45 crore, were exported. This year, the exports were likely to be less than 450 tonnes.

Mango occupies an area of 4.5 lakh hectares in the state (2005-06) with a productivity of 6-8 tonnes per hectare. Major varieties grown in the state are Banganapalli, which accounts for 60 per cent of the total area, followed by Totapari, Neelam, Rasaalu and other varieties.

In major mango growing districts like Krishna, Chittoor, Kurnool, Khammam, and Adilabad, a 25 per cent to 30 per cent decline in fruit set was noticed.

In Krishna district, which accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the total mango production in the state, the crop size in the current season is estimated to be at 2 lakh tonnes as against 3 lakh tonnes in 2006.