According to sources severe drought conditions in the state are threatening the yield of mangoes this season and hence this had led to an increase in prices in markets and stores across the state. Reportedly the recent harvest of the King of Fruits has been drastically affected and farmers are expecting that the produce could be as low as 30% of the average annual yield.
Furthermore blaming the weather conditions as the reason, Ramachandra, deputy director of the Horticulture Department in Dharwad, explained that extreme temperatures, absence of moisture in the soil and heavy winds have affected the growth of the fruit. Apparently echoing the demands of the farmers in Karnataka, he said that there are no storage solutions or pulp production centres, and that neighboring states have small-scale industries established for the well-being of farmers.
Moreover the farmers who are staring at losses are also concerned by the price fluctuation in the market due to the gap between supply and demand and earlier in 2018, the late onset of the season and a sudden surplus led to a price crash and farmers fear that the situation will repeat itself.
