Alphonso mango flowering delayed due to cyclones Gaja & Phethai

The alphonso mango flowering may be delayed in the key regions of Ratnagiri and Devgad due to the changing weather patterns caused by cyclones Gaja and Phethai. These cyclones have lashed the eastern coasts of India but their effects have even reached India’s western coasts with gusty winds and even minor showers. 

Gaja was the first to hit in November, resulting in destroying the early flowering on the mango trees. At the AAMRAI mango orchards in Ratnagiri, farmers have their fingers crossed that Phethai will not cause such damage. The potential mango crop looks good and quantity is also ample, however this will be ready for harvest only after mid April. The early crop which comes in from mid March, was largely laid to waste by Gaja. Hence mango quantities up to mid April may be limited.

However there is still a long way to go and a lot will depend on how cold the winter sets in over the next few months and subsequently how soon the summer temperatures rise, allowing early maturity and harvest of the delectable fruits. Alphonso mango is an extremely sensitive fruit and is very vulnerable to the vagaries of the weather – cold temperatures, scorching heat or rains. 

Fingers crossed for an early and abundant mango season 2019.