 "AP mango production to be flat this season")
According to the first estimates prepared by the state horticulture department, the output is expected to be 4.54 million tonne (mt), spread across 504,348 hectares. In 2012-13, the fruit output stood at 4.4 mt from an area of 489,658 ha.
Within the state, coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions together constitutes 70 per cent area and production, while the remaining comes from Telangana.
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The spread of untimely rains in the interior parts of the state last week impacted the prospects of gain, as the plantation area covering 16,000 ha in Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad in Telangana districts and some areas in Rayalaseema was affected, according to the department.
The extent of damage would be more than 50 per cent, leading to a production loss of 30,634 tonnes and Rs 44 crore in terms of value.
“Retail prices for the initial arrivals should be higher as traders may speculate against the backdrop of unexpected damages in the first week of March,” said commissioner of Horticulture M Papi Reddy. However, average retail prices for the entire season would remain unchanged, he added.
In the last season, the average retail price of Banganapalle and Rasalu (juice), the most preferred varieties, in Hyderabad stood at Rs 40-50 a kg and Rs 50-60 a kg respectively. However, in the beginning months, prices usually stay elevated and depend on pick-up in arrivals. The state also grows Totapuri and Manjeera varieties.
Andhra Pradesh exports mango to West Asia, South Africa, Europe and North America. Export revenues last year stood at Rs 1,700 crore. With the rupee advantage, the horticulture department expects revenues to grow at least 10 per cent this year.
In every season, traders reward farmers for the initial arrivals. Last season, in the first week of April, farmers reaped Rs 40,000 for every tonne of produce. However, by April-end to May-mid, the price dropped to around Rs 25,000 a tonne. At the fag end of the season, it came down to Rs 8,000-10,000, said Samma Reddy, assistant commissioner of Horticulture (Planning). The breakeven price for a farmer for every ha is Rs 7,000.
The role of middlemen (traders) is a key factor in the fixation of mango price. “Farmers living close to cities are able to make good gains, while others are subjected to the price volatility,” he said.
The state horticulture department said it was making extensive efforts to improve the yield by working with agricultural universities in the country. It says better orchard management and timely fertiliser application was yielding four tonnes for every ha now, when compared with around two tonnes in 2000.
The department is encouraging the usage of ethral, a chemical used to ripen fruits. This is a cost-efficient and improved chemical when compared with that of the conventional calcium carbide.
It is also providing plant and fertiliser subsidy to new plantations covering up to 10 acres. In the first year, plantation owners get assistance Rs 16,000, followed by Rs 6,500 in the second year and Rs 5,000 in the third year. For the mango plantation management, it was spending around Rs 10 crore every year.