Kesar mango output drops 70% exports face Gulf war impact

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Kesar mango production is expected to decline by nearly 70% this year due to adverse weather and large-scale fruit drop, experts said. Unseasonal rains and storms since last year, including during Diwali, have severely affected orchards in Maharashtra and the Konkan region. As a result, only around 30% of the usual crop is likely to reach markets. The ongoing Gulf war is also expected to disrupt exports, further impacting orchardists’ earnings. Most Indian mango exports go to Gulf countries, followed by the US and Europe. A meeting convened by APEDA in New Delhi on April 7, involving exporters and horticulture experts, will review the export situation.