TIL Desk/Business/Lucknow/ Nature’s wrath has rendered a big blow to mango output in Uttar Pradesh this year, not only hitting the price of the ‘king of fruits’ but also its quality and the quantum of exports. Mango production, which was estimated to be around 50 lakh metric tonnes this year, is now expected to reach only 25-30 lakh metric tonnes in the state because of continued thunderstorms, dust storms and untimely showers this season.
“The flowering of the fruit was very good this year, almost 99 per cent, and we had expected that the production would be around 50 lakh metric tonnes,” President of All India Mango Growers Association Insram Ali told. Uttar Pradesh — with 14 mango belts — is among the major producers of the ‘king of fruits’.
The mango belts in Saharanpur, Bulandshahr, Barabanki, Hardoi, Hasanganj in Unnao, Pratapgarh, Amroha besides Malihabad produce the best of the succulent varieties of Dussheri, Chausa and Langra. Dussheri and Chausa varieties are exported from the state. Ali said the temperature required for the fruit was not steady. It kept fluctuating, resulting in the crop getting infested by pests, he said.
