Kesar mango prices likely to shoot up

Mango cultivators are expected to register a deficit of 40 per cent in routine yields, especially Kesar mangoes, across the Sorath Province following changes in the cultivation and weather pattern.

With the markets already bracing for the deficit, prices of Kesar mangoes are likely to shoot up to Rs 300 and more for 10kg on its early arrival at marketing yards across the province. Kesar mangoes are exclusively cultivated in the area between Amreli and Junagadh districts across Gir-Gadhada, Talala-Gir, Khambha, Kodinaar, Una and Vanthali villages, together known as Sorath Province.

Hasmukh Jarsaniya, secretary of Talala marketing yard, said, "Business of Kesar mangoes is done in ratio of 40:60, wherein 40 per cent mangoes are transacted through marketing yards and the rest 60 per cent are transacted through open markets. Usually 80,000 boxes of 10kg each are sold a day at the Talala marketing yard in the two-month peak season, which starts from April 15."

About 30 per cent of mango orchids have been affected because flowers (termed as 'Mor' in Sorathi Gujarati) have not grown yet. This is because of the change in the weather for the past 15 days, which has affected the cultivation pattern, Jarsaniya said. About 10 per cent of blossomed flowers have been damaged.

A combination of dense forests and coastal belt with humid, moderate climate in March allows the fruit to maintain the balance of water and pulp ratio in proportion, making it sweet for consumption.

Every year, 40-45 lakhs of boxes are sold in Talala (Gir) marketing yard alone. Traders and fruit-merchants book their stock well in advance. "Usually export enquiries are floated by this time. However, no export enquiries have been tendered till now. We perceive a good picture for the markets this year, but we suspect that the farmers would have to bear the brunt of the losses due to unforeseen natural factors denting the yield of Kesar," said Mahesh Karia, who has mango farms in Sasan Gir in Junagadh district. Last year, lowest rates registered in Kesar mango trade at Talala marketing yard were between Rs 40 and Rs 170 per 10kg and higher margin was in the range of Rs 50-290 per 10kg.

About 12-15 lakh boxes of Kesar mangoes were sold from yard and the rest 25-28 lakh boxes were sold in open market in 2005. In 2006, 9-11 lakh boxes were sold in the yard and 16-18 lakh boxes in the open market.

This year, the yard is anticipating to sell 24-25 lakh boxes. Mango merchants from Rajkot, Junagadh, Ahmedabad, Gondal, Porbandar and Jamnagar buy from Talala markets, where about 80,000 boxes of mangoes are sold daily out of which 50,000 boxes are traded through open markets while the rest are sold in the yard.