After two poor seasons mango yield set to improve as farmers use fruit covers for first time to protect the fruits
Visakhapatnam: The prospects of mango, the king of fruits, look brighter this year compared to previous two years, farmers of north Andhra say.
In Vizianagaram district alone, the fruit is grown over 30,000 hectares compared to 3.5 lakh hectares in the entire Andhra Pradesh. The average production in the state hovers between 45–50 lakh tonnes per annum.
This year, the yield is expected to be 10 tonnes in each hectare, which is 60 per cent of a good season. In 2023, the yield had been 50 per cent and a dismal 20 per cent in 2024.
Horticulture additional director Jamadagni told this correspondent on Friday that this year, unusual rains have led to a drop in flowering during December. Yet, the prospects look better.
He said the state government is taking several measures to improve the yield. The Horticulture department has announced a scheme under which fruit covers made of paper were given to farmers to protect the fruit when they are of lemon size. The cost of each cover is Rs 2 and the government subsidises it by one rupee.
The farmers using fruit covers would not have to invest much in pesticides. As the cover is of quality paper, it would protect the fruit till the final stage.
Said Jamadagni, “We will train farmers in integral pest management so that they can improve their yield this year. We are organising a buyer-seller meet in Vizianagaram during the first week of March to help the farmers understand the markets and earn more income.”
A farmer and mango trader from Alamanda in Vizianagaram L. Demudu said farmers are hoping to get a good yield this year. He grows the fruit on his 30-acre orchard and has taken another 500 acres on lease.
“This year, there is an excess of flowering. But due to diseases caused by fog, we are having to use more pesticides,” Demudu explained. He disclosed that they invest Rs 20,000 per acre for watering, pesticide spray, pruning and use of Cultar, a plant hormone.
He said the types of mangoes they are growing are Banganapalli, China Rasalu, Pedda Rasalu, Totapuri, Neelam and Suvarnarekha. Banganapalli or Benishan is one of the premium varieties in Andhra Pradesh, which is most suitable for exports. There is also demand for the Suvarnarekha variety in the global market.
