Mango going pricey following low production

New Delhi: Soaring heat hit mango production in the nation, hiking up price for the king of fruits, reports say.

Summer is the favourite season for mango trees as long as the season is mild enough to keep the flowers intact.

As mercury melts further, mango yielding has been bit by around70 percent in Uttar Pradesh's mango belt formed by Lucknow, Pratapgarh, Hardoi, Saharanpur, Barabanki and Sitapur

Fans of Lucknowi Dussehri and other varieties of mangoes may have to look elsewhere to sample some.

India is home to some of the most delicious varieties of mango, alongside being the largest producer contributing 50 per cent to the global output.

States famous for mangoes include Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Bihar, Gujarat and West Bengal.

Of all mangoes, Lucknowi Dussehri variety is special in the market.

"The production of mangoes in Uttar Pradesh ranged from 35 to 45 lakh metric tonnes every year, but this time production of 10-12 lakh metric tonnes is expected. Therefore, mango will be sold in the market at a very high price and people fond of mango will have to spend more money," Mango Growers Association of India President Insram Ali told PTI.

Scorching heat during the flowering season February and March this year hit major crop, according to Ali.

Where maxim heat the trees require is 30 to 35 degree Celsius, temperature reached 40 degree Celsius in March, drying up the flowers.

Mohammad Naseem, a mango grower from Malihabad, famous for Dussehri mango, said mango yield had never been so bad.

The month of March was the hottest in the last 122 years and April in the last 50 years, according to the report.

With inputs from PTI