If you want to taste the 'king of Konkan', the Alphonso mango, this season, do it early.
Though the first season of the Alphonso mangoes, in April, will go off well, farmers say getting the mangoes for the second season – in May and June – will be difficult.
Premature rains in the region has badly affected the second season.
"The first batch has arrived in the market. The current rate is between Rs 300 and Rs 1,000 per dozen. Untimely rains have damaged almost 30% crops. It will affect supply in the coming days. Normally, in the healthy season, we do not get damaged fruits," said Sanjay Pansare, director at Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC).
Pansare himself is a wholesale mango dealer and has got 200 acres of orchid in Pune.
What do people do every season?
Normally, people wait till May and June to get the mango at cheaper rates. "But this year, there will not be a good second season. Therefore, mango lovers should enjoy their favourite fruit now," says Pansare.
Will the price increase?
European countries have lifted the ban on mango imports from India. "We are exporting 17,000 boxes each day. Most of them are going to Gulf and Western countries. Very soon, European countries will also start importing the Alphonso. The high demand will lead to price rise," a mango seller at APMC said.
Why did Europe ban imports?
The ban was imposed last year after they found some fruit flies. "Actually, in Konkan mangoes, there are no fruit flies. They are found mostly in mangoes grown in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Farmers in these states go for multiple crops. In Konkan, we do not follow a multiple crop pattern. Therefore, we get good quality mangoes," Dinesh Sawant, a Konkan farmer, said.
What about vegetable prices?
APMC gets abundant supply of vegetables. As a result, rates are normal. "We receive 700 truckloads a day against the normal supply of 500. Also, due to untimely rains, farmers are bringing the produce to market early," said Shankar Pingale, APMC director.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}