Mango traders in north-coastal Andhra Pradesh, who have taken vast tracts of mango and cashew orchards on lease from farmers are now refusing to step into the orchards claiming that it would be a fruitless exercise, as there is hardly any fruit to be picked.
Much of the mango and cashew crops have been lost owing to the initial deficit in rainfall and then effect of cyclone Fani in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.
According to the Joint Director for Horticulture in Srikakulam, heavy rains during cyclones Titli and Fani are responsible for the crop loss in Viziangaram and Srikakulam districts.
"Titli wiped out all the fruit bearing trees in the Uddanam and the coastal region. Almost 20.000 hectares of mango and cashew crops were destroyed by Titli. which destroyed the fruit bearing branches. Fani ravaged whatever trees were spared by Titli as heavy winds and gale swept across the district resulting in fruit-fall. The damage to mango and cashew this year cannot be measured."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
