Mango to be dearer by 50-65 per cent this summer

Unseasonal rain led to a production loss of up to 50 per cent in some States.

April 21, 2015 07:03 pm | Updated 07:03 pm IST - New Delhi

A vendor displays Alphonso mangoes at Crawford Market in Mumbai on April 8, 2015. Photo: Paul Noronha

A vendor displays Alphonso mangoes at Crawford Market in Mumbai on April 8, 2015. Photo: Paul Noronha

Relishing mangoes this summer will cost a lot more. Prices of the fruit have shot up by 50-65 per cent as unseasonal rain caused production loss.

A study by industry body Assocham said lower-end varieties are selling at Rs. 100 a kg in retail markets while the premium variety Alphonso is selling at Rs 500-600 per dozen in Mumbai.

Unseasonal rain led to a production loss of up to 50 per cent in some States.

“Mango crop suffered the onslaught of repeated rain accompanied by hailstorm and strong winds from end January till early April, 2015 in North and Central India, resulting in huge loss.

“Prices have shot up by 50-65 per cent, at a much higher pace than other fruits and vegetables,” the study said.

The maximum damage has been reported in Uttar Pradesh, which produces the largest variety of mangoes in over a dozen areas like Malihabad, Shahabad, Aloha, Unnao, Bulandshahr, Hardoi, Barabanki and Saharanpur.

Preliminary estimates point towards a minimum loss of 20 per cent on production, it said. In some pockets of Uttar Pradesh the loss was estimated at over 50 per cent.

With an output of four million tonnes, U.P. contributes about one-fourth of India’s production, which is likely to fall to 15 million tonnes this season, the study said, adding that the situation in Maharashtra and other central Indian states was equally bad.

“Various State governments have announced relief measures and financial compensation. They are not sufficient to mitigate farmers’ losses and also curb rising prices. More needs to be done to help farmers,” Assocham secretary General D.S. Rawat said.

As per the study, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh together account for about half of the total mangoes produced in India with both the States accounting for almost similar share of over 24 per cent.

Karnataka (10 per cent) and Bihar (7.6 per cent) are among the top five States with high share in mango production.

The study said the production losses were likely to impact exports of the fruit from India.

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