26-05-2025
Nuzvid mangoes bear the brunt of unseasonal rains
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Vijayawada: Mango farmers in Nuzvid and surrounding areas are facing a season of despair after untimely rains and a severe fruit fly infestation damaged a major chunk of their crop.
Following the outbreak, prices of mangoes have crashed in the open market, falling to a five-year low of 12,000 per tonne. This has left the farmers in deep financial distress.
Mango farmers were initially optimistic about having a profitable season, as mango blossoms appeared around January and interstate exports started a month ahead of the usual schedule at Vijayawada mango market. The premium Banganapalli variety fetched as high as 64,000 per tonne in early March.
This raised the farmers' hopes. However, heavy rains in the first week of April damaged the ripening fruits. The wet conditions led to fungal infections like sooty mold, while the sudden spread of fruit flies from the second week of April devastated the remaining crop.
Despite increased pesticide use, farmers could not stop the damage.
Adding to their woes of the mango growers, traders who had paid advance amounts, are now backing out.
"They're demanding we return the advance amounts. We are helpless," said K Rama Subbaiah, a farmer from Agiripalli. In open markets, brokers are refusing to buy Banginapalli and Chinna Rasam varieties due to quality issues.
