In Pakistan's Hyderabad region, mango crops faced adverse conditions due to recent wind storms on May 3-4, impacting the Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas districts. Known for its mango orchards, the area typically experiences strong summer winds by late April or early May. This year, the storms have disrupted preparations for sending certain mango varieties to market in early May.
The season started unfavorably for Sindh's mango crops, with initial losses from water shortages compounded by pest infestations. The recent windstorms further affected crop prospects. The meteorological department recorded wind speeds of 54 km/h in Hyderabad on May 3 and 52 km/h in Mirpurkhas on May 4, as the storm moved eastward.
The windstorms resulted in the premature dropping of unripe mangoes, or kairi, leading to an influx of these fruits in Hyderabad's wholesale market. Asif Arain, a fruit trader, noted, "Dozens of vehicles carrying kairi arrived following the storms, which is unusual in May." This influx caused market prices to drop from Rs2,000 to Rs2,200 ($7 to $8) per 50kg bag to Rs300 to Rs400 ($1 to $1.50).
Mirpurkhas-based mango producer Taha Memon expressed concern over monetary losses due to reduced fruit setting after pest attacks. He attributed the increasing malformation to climate change, saying, "Actually, this malformation due to diseases is increasing, which is being attributed to climate change, and it is becoming increasingly troubling for us every season."
Growers emphasize the importance of irrigation water supplies in early February and March for flowering and fruit setting. Mir Shah Mohammad from Tandojam used tube wells for irrigation, but noted that subsoil water is not a substitute for canal water. He observed that undersized, unripe mangoes could impact export potential.
Mango orchard contractors have unilaterally revoked contracts, citing potential financial losses. Haji Umar Daraz, a contractor, confirmed, "Landlords promise they will cooperate with contractors, but most of them don't." The contractual system involves contractors paying a fixed amount to manage orchards, harvest fruit, and sell it, often without government support for innovation or research.
Mahmood Nawaz Shah, an orchard owner, argued that mango producers operate in a vacuum without institutional support. He criticized the lack of model orchards for high-density farming, which involves planting 324 to 526 trees per hectare compared to the conventional 12 to 16 trees per hectare. Nadeem Shah, a Matiari-based orchard owner, abandoned high-density farming due to high labor costs, while Ghulam Sarwar Abro reported positive results from his high-density farming efforts.
Source: Asia News Network