Mangoes missing from the market.

Byline: Mohammad Hussain Khan

A mature crop of mangoes is yet to be fully available in the market amidst reports of substantial decline in production mainly in sindhri variety apparently due to climate change-driven variations in weather. Extended winter, unusual summer rains, winds and hailstorms are factors that adversely affected the crop.

But there is good news as well. Mangoes have started gaining lost ground in lower Sindh as growers who had done away with orchards have taken interest in farming the 'king of fruit' again.

Up until five to six years ago, growers had switched to other crops. Although the trend of re-cultivation is slow, it is constant. This will eventually contribute to higher mango production in the long run.

In the short to medium term, the mango crop is facing a host of challenges. A team of the Mirpurkhas-based Sindh Horticulture Research Institute assessed around 25-30 per cent drop in crop production in its 2019's annual survey.

Agriculture department figures show that a loss of 30-40pc in sindhri variety is to be seen on account of an extended winter, powdery mildew and back to back windstorms.

Mangoes have started gaining lost ground in lower Sindh as growers who had done away with orchards have taken interest in farming the 'king of fruit' again

Drop in production was seen last year as well but it was attributable to water shortage. While water flows this year remained better as compared to same period last year, variations in temperature impacted the crop negatively.

Progressive mango growers like Umer Bughio, Sarwar Abro, Imdad Nizamani and Nadeem Shah agree with these assessments.

Mr Nizamani is a veteran mango grower managing a 120-acre farm in Tando Allahyar. 'Winter's effect on banana leaves is a major indicator of mango crop performance. If banana leaves are not burnt due an extended winder, it means the mango crop will not do well,' he said.

An extended winter, with mercury dropping below 3-4 Celsius for a fortnight, benefits mangoes. Such conditions stimulate the carbohydrates process in trees which tends to have a positive bearing on the fruit.

Mr Nizamani said that the sindhri variety will face a decline this season as evident from the impact of weather on the crop grown in his farm.

'Those who have fresh groundwater reserves like me are better off in terms of water supply for orchards', said Mr Abro, who owns a 300-acre mango farm in Thatta. However, he conceded that temperature had left an impact...

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