Not So 'Aam': India's Mango Season Marred By Low Yields, Soaring Prices
Arrival of mangoes in markets across the country in May 2024 continued to lag by a third, when compared to the same period last year.
While other countries enjoyed rare sightings of the Aurora Borealis this May, India grappled with dust storms, soaring temperatures, and heatwaves. However, those anticipating the summer season for mangoes faced disappointment with low yields and increased prices.
According to data from NDTV Profit, mango arrivals in markets across India during May 2024 were one-third lower compared to the same period last year.
In Karnataka, the poor crop is attributed mainly to inadequate rainfall last year, resulting in yields of only 20–30% of the usual amount, explained Mohammad Aquil Ahmed, a mango cultivator from Tumkur, located about 60 kilometers from Bengaluru.
In a typical year, an orchard of 100 mango trees would yield around 10,000 kg (or 10 tonnes) of mangoes, with about 80 trees contributing to this harvest. However, this year, such an orchard has produced barely two tonnes of mangoes, he said.
Besides the insufficient rainfall in parts of South India last year, the usual light, unseasonal "mango showers" that occur in April were absent this year, further affecting the fruit's size, said Ahmed. The smaller mangoes have resulted in lower tonnage, causing most farmers to incur losses this season.
In addition to Karnataka, states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat also experienced low mango yields this season, Ahmed reported. Although Maharashtra and Gujarat, accounting for 40–50% of the total mango produce, fared slightly better.
Meanwhile, in other regions of the country, including Rahimabad (located 38 km from Lucknow), mango cultivation was also poor due to disruptions in flowering, said mango cultivator Tariq Faiyaz. He said that last year had been much more favourable for mango cultivation.
Mango Inflation: Lower Stocks, Higher Prices
The reduced fruit yields have led to increased prices, according to Faiyaz. At mango auctions, buyers evaluate the crop before making bids. Compared to last year's auction prices of about Rs 175 per kg for Dasheri mangoes, this year's prices have surged to Rs 300-350 per kg, he noted.
Mango inflation reached 25.45% in April 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, while headline inflation stood at 4.8%.
Despite the higher prices, farmers have incurred losses this season due to poor yields, lamented Ahmed, emphasizing the critical role of rainfall in agricultural outcomes.
