Weather dulls hopes of good mango yield

The cent per cent flowering of mango trees this January had painted a rosy picture for a good yield of the fruit in the state. However, the recent cloudy and stormy weather in some parts of the state, coupled with rainfall in several other places, has resulted in excessive fruit and flower drop. This has left mango farmers staring at a shortfall in production and a possible price rise too this year. Experts believe that the mango season will only last for 35-45 days this time.

G M Waghmare, officer-in-charge at the Fruit Research Station in Aurangabad, said the recent rainfall in Aurangabad led to considerable flower and fruit drop. "Mango trees bear two types of flowers - male and hermaphrodite. It is the latter that bears fruits. Though the male flower drop is considerable every year, the recent weather conditions resulted in hermaphrodite flowers declining too, leading to a 25-30 per cent fruit and flower drop. Also, in such weather conditions, fruits tend to catch diseases such as anthracnose," he said.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-10/pune/28676751_1_mango-production-mango-farmers-mango-season