Pests and water management hindering Indian mango farmers
Mango is cultivated in 1.5 lakh acres (60,000 hectares in Krishna district; the average yield of the gardens in the district is four tonnes an acre), according to Krishna district Assistant Director N. Sujatha.
Three species effect these mangoes including Idioscopus niveosparsus, Idioscopus clypealis and Amirtodus atkinsoni. These are serious pests in the mango-growing regions in the country and excrete honey dews on which black mould develops harming the growth of the fruit.
Another problem with mango farmers is their poor water management, she said. When the Nagarjuna Sagar water is available in abundance, the farmers tend to use too much water. Water has not been released from the NSP for the second consecutive year.
Excess watering increases the size of the fruit but the taste will be poor. Rain is the only source of water for a majority of the farmers. Only a few farmers have tube-wells. This too has improved the quality of the fruits, she said.
source: thehindu.com
