Gujarat's Alphonso and Kesar Mango Harvest Faces Severe Setback Amid Weather Woes and Pest Attacks
In a season that started with high hopes, growers of the prized Valsadi Hafoos (Alphonso) mangoes in Gujarat are now confronting a deeply disappointing harvest. Orchards across the state are displaying far fewer fruits than anticipated, despite initial bumper flowering that had promised a bountiful yield.
Adverse Conditions Lead to Drastic Yield Reduction
Farmers throughout Gujarat attribute this downturn to a combination of adverse weather patterns, including recent unseasonal wet spells, vegetative flush, and a severe thrips infestation. These factors have collectively slashed fruit retention, with many cultivators bracing for barely half their usual output. The erratic climate has steadily undermined crop reliability over recent years, exacerbating this season's challenges.
Farmers' Struggles and Crop Losses Detailed
Ashok Naik, who manages a 5,000-tree mango orchard in Sonwadi village of Navsari, highlighted the impact of prolonged cloudy conditions that triggered a heavy thrips attack. "Though flowering was abundant, most fruits dropped at the setting stage," he explained. "Those who used plant growth regulators saved some crop, but many suffered heavy losses. Also, flowering was largely male, which reduced fruit formation." Naik, who typically harvests around 200,000 kg, now expects a mere 60,000 kg.
Sudip Naik from Ichhapore village echoed these concerns, noting a disruption in long-standing crop cycles. "We earlier saw bumper crops every alternate year, but that pattern has broken over the past 7–8 years due to changing weather conditions," he said. "Even when flowering and initial fruiting look promising in December, the final yield often drops to around 25%. This year, mangoes are hardly visible on trees, and farmers are reluctant to even discuss prices." Many cultivators have been compelled to adapt their farming practices in response.
Official Acknowledgment of Widespread Damage
Officials have also recognized the scale of the problem. DK Paladiya, deputy director of horticulture for the Navsari-Tapi region, pointed to a severe thrips infestation in early February as a key cause of widespread fruit drop. "The pest attack during the crucial fruit-setting stage led to significant losses," he stated. "While some farmers managed it with timely interventions, most could not prevent the damage."
Mixed Outlook in Saurashtra's Kesar Mango Belt
In the Saurashtra region, home to the renowned Kesar mango, the situation presents a mixed picture. While some orchards report satisfactory yields, others have been hit hard by irregular flowering and fresh vegetative growth. Tushar Dhameliya, director of a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in the Gir area, noted that new shoots in several orchards will not bear fruit this season. "In such orchards, there may be little to no yield this year," he said. However, he added that an expansion in total cultivation area could partially offset these losses, potentially keeping overall production near average levels.
Kesar mango cultivation spans nearly 40,000 hectares across 11 districts in Saurashtra, including Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Amreli, and Bhavnagar, with an average annual output of about 280,000 metric tonnes. This year's challenges threaten to significantly dent these figures, underscoring the broader agricultural vulnerabilities faced by the region.
