More mangoes expected this year despite heat wave: senior agriculture official

India’s total mango production is likely to increase by about 14% this year to 24 million tons.

New Delhi:

Total mango production in India is likely to increase by around 14 per cent to 24 million tonnes this year, Director ICAR-Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture T Damodaran said today.

He said the heat wave predicted by the India Meteorological Department during April-May may not have a major impact on mango production, provided farmers pay attention to irrigation during May to reduce excessive fruit drop.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest summer forecast has predicted that the more severe heat wave may last for 10 to 20 days instead of the usual 2 to 4 days.

Above-normal heat wave conditions are likely to occur in most parts of the southern peninsula, central India, eastern India and the plains of northwestern India.

“The mango flowering process is a critical part of the fruit setting process. The mango flowering period is almost over due to favorable weather. Pollination is normal and fruit setting has begun. A normal heat wave may not affect the yield but will indirectly help the crop,” Mr. Damodaran told News agency PTI.

At present, the prospects for mango production are promising. He said total production in the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) is likely to increase to 24 million tonnes as compared to 21 million tonnes in 2022-23.

Southern India is expected to have a bumper mango harvest, accounting for 50% of the country’s total production. Last year, southern states faced 15% losses due to unusual weather conditions. However, he added, things are better this year.

Mango is an important fruit crop in India, commonly known as the “King of Fruits”. India is a major mango growing country, accounting for nearly 42% of world production.

Mr. Damodaran said climate plays an important role in flowering and fruit setting.

However, if a higher-than-normal heatwave occurs, farmers need to take precautions to address soil moisture stress by ensuring gentle irrigation to reduce fruit drop, he said.

He also advised farmers to be wary of invasive pests, especially thrips insects in the mango-growing areas of the northern plains.

Mr. Damodaran said the thrips population has increased several times in many mango orchards.

In search of food, thrips insects will migrate from the flower parts to the newly formed fruit. To save crops, farmers can immediately spray insecticides, especially imidacloprid at about 4 milliliters (ml) per liter of water or thiamethoxam at 0.4 grams per liter of water, he said.

There are some mango trees that are already blooming with new blooms and blossoms. He said that since the fresh leaves are relatively tender, farmers should use 0.5 ml per liter of permethrin along with the above-mentioned insecticides to control the semi-fly borer pest.

“This also controls panicle/fruit fly. As long as the flowers are still open, spraying may be delayed by 2-3 days.” Also, if farmers are not spraying 2 grams of heconazole per liter of water to control powdery mildew plant disease, he added Said they should mix it with the above mentioned spray.

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