Delay in flowering may hit mango yield in Krishna

Vijayawada: The untimely rains in December last year due to impact of cyclone Phethai badly affected the mango crop in Krishna district. The rains damaged the crop in flowering stage in many mandals. Flowering was also delayed due to chilly weather conditions prevailed due to the impact of cyclone Phethai. Mango farmers have to wait till May and June to get the yield this season.

Mango is one of the important fruits being cultivated in Krishna district in an extent of 66,000 hectares. Farmers get mango yield by March-end or in April. But, due to cyclone impact, the flowering was delayed and subsequently, the yield may also be delayed till May and June.

Cyclone Phethai which hit the coastal districts in December damaged the mango crop in Krishna district, said D Raghuram, a mango farmer in Eedara village, which is located between Vijayawada and Nuzvid. If the flowering starts by December-end, the yield will come after 90 days in March and April every year.

But, the cool weather conditions prevailed in December 2018 and January 2019 due to the impact of cyclone Phethai resulted in the crop delay, said S Ajay Babu, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Nuzvid. He said the crop yield is likely to come down this season. As temperature levels are gradually increasing in February, the mango farmers are worried that if the flowers are not changed to fruit, they have to suffer a lot.  

Ajay Babu said the mango yield is gradually decreasing in Krishna district due to ageing trees, which can’t give output. Most mango orchards in Krishna district were planted many decades ago. Due to the impact of old age, the trees lose energy to give yield, felt Ajay Babu. Last year also, mango crop was delayed till June in the district. This also affected the mango flowering this season. 

Mango farmers spend Rs 20,000 per acre to raise the crop. If they did not get yield, they would incur heavy loss.  K Rajasekhar, a mango farmer in Nuzvid, said the farmers are not changing the pattern of planting trees. He said the farmers have to choose ultra-high density plantation to grow more plants and output. He pointed out replacement of trees is also important but it is not happening due to various reasons.