Rainfall hits mango prices hard

Mysuru: The erratic rainfall in South Karnataka in the last week has affected the quality, and subsequently, the price of mangoes. Prices of all varieties of mangoes have fallen by Rs 20 at least. The Badam variety mango, which was sold at Rs 80 per kg, is now sold at Rs 60. The price of Rasapuri mangoes have fallen from Rs 70 to Rs 50, while Sindhura and Mallika variety mangoes are being sold at Rs 40 per kg.

P Prakash, Senior Farm Superintendent at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Naganahalli cites several reasons for the price crash. He says that the mangoes that fall due to the winds are the ones to be sent to the market first. Such mangoes are of poor quality and, as a result, fetch less money. Eventually, these poor quality mangoes bring down the price of the entire stock, leading to price fluctuation.

Increased mango supply to the market is also another reason for the fall in price. Growers say that if the rain continues, mangoes will develop black spots, deteriorating its quality. So they sell all the mangoes at once, before it falls prey to the climate.