The timely end of the monsoon this year is likely to benefit the harvest of Alphonso mangoes during the mango season in the summer of 2013
Apart from seeing better quality crop, mango experts expect the mangoes to be cheaper next year too. The rates of Alphonso mangoes were unaffordable this year with the prices of grade one Alphonso mangoes remaining high (between Rs 2,500 to 4,500) throughout the season. The taste was inferior, too.
Mukadam, a mango farmer from Ratnagiri, said, “We saw a smaller harvest of mangoes this year because winter had extended by over one month last season. Because of the longer winter, flowering of the mango trees began early on trees that had already borne fruits. Small mangoes on these trees got spoilt and fell off, so we had a very low supply of the fruit in May.” Mukadam says the following summer will see a better mango output. “We expect the winter season to be normal as the rain has been timely this year,” he says.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the Maharashtra state-run Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) traders, the supply of mangoes will begin by March-end 2013. Vijay Dhoble, an expert on mango cultivation and a trader at the APMC market, said, “We expect the supply of Alphonso mangoes to start by March-end. By the end of May, it will be optimum.” According to APMC sources, grade one Alphonso mangoes will be available for Rs 800 to Rs 3,000.u00a0
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
