Mango crop down by 50 pc this year

Alphonso is available for Rs 800-1,000 a dozen in the wholesale markets of the city,while retail rates go up to Rs 1,200 with varying sizes and quality.

Ankush Konde,fruits and vegetable section in-charge,Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC),Pune,said,“The amount of arrivals as well as the rates now are what we usually have by March end. Last year,we had 10,000-20,000 boxes coming in Pune markets by April 15,but this time we had only about 1,700 boxes. This time even the quality is not good.”

Rates at the Pune APMC were Rs 2,000-2,500 for a box of Alphonsos containing about four to five dozen mangoes. Most mangoes in Pune are now coming from Ratnagiri and some parts of Karnakata,while some stock is also from Raigad and Devgad. By May 10,Balsar mangoes are also expected in the city.

Yogesh Desai,a retail fruit seller in Kothrud,said,“Prices vary with size and quality. Boxes of two dozen Alphonsos,weighing 2 kg a dozen,are selling for Rs 1,200. The ones that weigh 2.5 kg a dozen cost Rs 1,400 for two dozens. Then there is the premium size which is the most expensive one – Rs 1,500 for a two dozen box,with a single dozen weighing three kgs. With such high prices,the regular buyers are still not coming. The consumption pattern is more of a weekly affair at present.”

Farmers and plantation owners are of the view that this year fruit setting selling has been delayed by 30 days due to prolonged winters followed by sudden rise in temperatures. “While we had 100 per cent flowering this year,fruits were only 10 per cent as most flowers got destroyed due to excessive dew drops towards the end of winter,which led to attack of fungal diseases like anthracnose ,” said a plantation owner from Ratnagiri.