Action plan to boost mango exports

The Horticulture Department of Krishna district has taken up the first phase of an action plan (pre-harvest management) in 65,000 hectares in the district to provide a fillip to the stagnated mango exports next year.

Mango exports have stagnated around 300 tonnes over the past few years despite the presence of five exporters in the field in Asia's biggest mango market here.

R Vidya Bhushan, deputy director, Agri Export Zone, said, "The department began the elaborate action plan in June itself. The plan is passing through crucial July when about 80 per cent of pests begin to thrive on mango trees. All major measures should be taken now itself to reap a good harvest next year."

Farmers harvested around 1.20 lakh tonnes of crop as against the expected 6.5 lakh tonnes every year due to their inattention to experts' counselling. The crop harvested also had not been of high standard, hence was not suitable for exports, he said.

According to Bhushan, farmers are now attending training classes conducted by horticulture experts in large numbers.

"Under experts supervision, farmers are strengthening mango tree rhizosphere (active rootzone) by wetting it sufficiently and applying fertilisers around it. Dead branches and crisscross branches would obstruct sunlight from falling on trees. Sunlight triggers photosynthesis in which carbohydrates (75 per cent of mango pulp) are manufactured in plants. Farmers have been provided chain-saws and told to chop off these waste and useless branches, which are also a haven for all diseases and pests."

Besides, farmers have been told to tackle boron deficiency due to which the number of male flowers outnumbers female flowers (only 3 per cent last year), which inhibits good crop production.

Of the pests, mangohopper attacks mango trees three times a year, first in June-July, then in September-October and again in January-February. The pest releases capnodium fungus in air, blackens (sooty mould) leaves, and stops synthesis of food.

The Thrips pest damages fruit. Anthracnose creates infectious spots (aakumaccha) on leaves and inflorescence and stops food supply. Powdery mildew pest causes the same damage in rasalu, thotapoori and other mango varieties.

"To check these pests, farmers under guidance are spraying pesticides, fungicides, and particularly neem formulations," he said.