April 27, 2023 at 11:08 pm | Updated April 28, 2023 07:48 AM IST – Nandyal/Puttaparthi
Sri Sathya Sai and Nandyal districts in the third week of March saw minimum temperatures ranging between 15°C to 17°C, resulting in bountiful crop yields. , photo credit: U. subramaniam
The inclusion of mango plantation works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) over the past 10 to 12 years has yielded fruitful results in the undivided Anantapur and Kurnool districts.
In both the districts, a significant increase can be seen in the number of hectares where mango is cultivated. The favorable soil and weather conditions have also come as an added advantage.
Weather conditions in December last year were favourable, resulting in early flowering and fruiting of mango orchards.
The misty weather in the first fortnight of March this year was a pleasant surprise for mango farmers, allowing trees to flower and bear fruit again.
Sri Sathya Sai and Nandyal districts in the third week of March saw minimum temperatures ranging between 15°C to 17°C, resulting in bountiful crop yields.
SSS dominates the benishan market in the district.
Horticulture Officer Chandrashekhar is telling Hindu that 21,000 hectares of mango is cultivated in Sri Sathya Sai district, and about 50% flowering has been observed.
Mr. Chandrasekhar says that 95% of mango cultivation in the district was dedicated to growing the Benishan or Banaganapalli variety.
This year, flowering and fruiting took place in three phases and mango prices increased from ₹70,000 to ₹80,000 per tonne. The average price was around ₹35,000 a tonne, says Mr. Chandrasekhar.
A good year for Anantapur district
This year, flowers were seen in 9,600 hectares and nearly 70% of the area is devoted to growing Benishan variety in Anantapur district, said Deputy Director, Horticulture, B. Raghunath Reddy said. He says last year there was less yield, but this year’s crop has made up for the loss.
Shri Raghunath Reddy says that earlier, in the undivided district, mangoes were grown on more than 41,000 hectares and the Kalyandurga region produced the best quality fruit in the district.
Spraying of fruits with ethylene is allowed in closed rooms, while horticulture department officials have asked traders to refrain from using carbide for artificial ripening.
As per the usual practice in the state, the growers leased to the traders for three years as soon as the flowers started, with the idea that one good year would compensate for two bad years.
Farmers are happy with the good yield this year and say they have made profits even after deducting the losses incurred last year.
Annual Crops in Nandyal District
Nandyal district horticulture officer Nagaraju says that 2023 saw an “on-ear crop”, meaning more than 50% of the trees saw flowers.
The crop was grown on 7,000 hectares in the district, he says, and the maximum and average prices of the dominant Benishan variety of fruit in the district were Rs 80,000 per tonne and Rs 40,000 per tonne this year.
“Mango trees aged 16 to 21 years give maximum yield, and trees above 35 years of age will see a decline in yield. There will be no profit in the first five to six years,” says Mr. Nagaraju.
This year, the average yield of Benishan variety was 3 to 4 tonnes per hectare. He adds that late-ripening varieties like Neelam, Daseri, Himayat, and Amaruthalu (Raslu) may see lower yields this year.