Mango growers in Visakhapatnam are experiencing a significant decline in production this season, with yields severely impacted. Bandaru Arjuna, a grower from Chodavaram, reported a 75 percent decrease in production due to increased temperatures.
Arjuna, who cultivates mangoes on over 20 acres in Adduru, Chodavaram mandal, noted that the yield was limited to the produce of merely five acres. Similarly, Pavada Appalaraju from Uttarapalli, Kothavalasa mandal, observed a reduction in his farm's output, managing only 500 boxes this year compared to 1,300 boxes last year.
District Horticulture Officer (DHO) K Satya Narayana Reddy attributed the decline to rising temperatures, unseasonal rains disrupting the flowering and fruit-setting cycles, and adverse effects on the pollination process. With mangoes cultivated across approximately 1,000 acres in Visakhapatnam district, the expected yield is around 800 to 1,000 tons this year, a stark contrast to the 8 to 10 tons per acre achievable under normal conditions. The region, including Anandapuram and Padmanabham mandals, predominantly grows 'Suvarnarekha' and 'Banganapalli' varieties, with this year's production not anticipated to exceed more than a tonne per acre.
Source: thehansindia.com